Election campaign day nine: Starmer gives Abbott green light to stand
The Labour leader declares the veteran left-winger ‘free’ to stand after the days-long row overshadowed his campaign.
![](https://www.guernseypress.com/resizer/v2/YBYGE3HMZ5ERHGVNBTJXHBQKAM.jpg?auth=7949d8667a72c5547d2ec5f0a8ded0a587d21214e6bcb07529448c02776c0586&width=300&height=225)
Sir Keir Starmer finally gave his verdict on whether Diane Abbott can stand as a Labour candidate on July 4 after his previous refusal to do so led to mounting tensions in the party.
Here are the key moments from day nine of the campaign:
– Starmer seeks to settle Abbott row
The Labour leader said Ms Abbott is “free” to defend her long-held Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat as a Labour candidate, ending speculation she could be barred.
He will be hoping his long-awaited decision – which is expected to be ratified by Labour’s National Executive Committee on Tuesday – puts an end to accusations of an anti-socialist crackdown that has dominated his campaign.
The Tories claimed Angela Rayner “is pushing” Sir Keir around, after his deputy first threw her weight behind Ms Abbott’s candidacy.
There was more selection drama as Labour’s Beth Winter accused the party leadership of “imposing” think tank boss Torsten Bell as Welsh Labour’s Swansea West candidate, calling it an “affront to democracy”.
![(PA Graphics)](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/32b92f3eafce246f5c8202c73fc2a0bcY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE3MjYxMjUz/2.76375508.jpg?w=640)
Sir Keir said there was “no Labour without Scotland” as he made his pitch to voters north of the border.
A major plank of the offer to Scottish voters is establishing GB Energy – a state-owned energy company based in Scotland.
The policy gained former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance’s backing while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mocked it as being just “a logo”.
![General Election campaign 2024](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/1e3fde71fa2854a56244bd6b95186fb2Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE3MjU5OTk1/2.76377371.jpg?w=640)
First Minister John Swinney claimed Sir Keir is “offering no change at all”.
– Picture of the day
![General Election campaign 2024](http://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/0a042bdf386c925e4aedefa89ab56c46Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzE3MjYyOTc1/2.76375952.jpg?w=640)
Political leaders carefully sidestepped questions on whether they would work with convicted former US president Donald Trump if he returns to the White House.
Mr Sunak said Mr Trump’s trial is not “my focus” while Sir Keir called it an “unprecedented situation”, but said Labour “will work with whoever is elected president”.
– Quote of the day
As the parties ramp up their use of social media humour and memes, Labour is claiming the Tories are trying to get its TikToks removed from the site.
A post by the official Labour Party account suggests that “the Tories are actively trying to get our TikToks taken down” because “they have nothing to offer the country”.
– What’s happening tomorrow?
Mr Sunak is campaigning in the North East.