Diane Abbott says she will stand in general election ‘by any means possible’

Diane Abbott has promised to stay on as an MP for her east London constituency ‘for as long as possible’, setting up a clash with Keir Starmer after a deal for her to retire from parliament broke down.

Abbott was given back the Labour whip this week after an investigation into comments she made about racism last year.

A Labour source briefed journalists that Abbott would be barred from standing again in her Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency. Starmer denied on Wednesday that she had been barred

I want to be an MP for as long as possible, Diane Abbott tells supporters