Diane Abbott has not been treated ‘fairly or appropriate,’ Angela Rayner said (Picture: Phil Lewis/SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)
Angela Rayner has defended Diane Abbott, saying she should be allowed to stand for Labour.
Labour’s deputy leader Rayner spoke in support of Diane Abbott after reports that she had been barred from running again for the party.
Rayner told the Guardian that Abbott has not been barred from running again, adding that she ‘doesn’t see any reason’ to stop her from running after the party whip was restored.
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She also said Abbott has not been treated ‘fairly or appropriately’ by some within Labour.
It comes after Abbott, who is Britain’s longest-serving MP, held a rally on Wednesday evening outside Hackney Town Hall where she told supporters she was ‘not going to allow myself to be intimidated or frightened.’
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The UK Parliament has now officially dissolved after closing its doors on midnight on Thursday.
It marks the start of a pre-election period known as purdah, which brings some restrictions for government activity such as allocation of funding and news broadcast coverage.