Diane Abbott says she will stand in Hackney 'by any means possible'

Diane Abbott says she plans on standing in her Hackney North seat in the upcoming election "by any means possible".

The Labour MP had the whip restored to her on Tuesday after being investigated for almost a year over a letter she wrote in The Guardian, suggesting Jewish people do not face racism.

But since then, there has been confusion over whether she would be allowed to stand for the constituency she has represented for 37 years under the party's banner - or be banned from standing at all.

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Speaking earlier on Wednesday following a report in the Times that Ms Abbott - the UK's first black woman MP - would be blocked for running in this election, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "no decision as been taken to bar" her.

But during a rally in support of her in Hackney, she refuted this, telling the crowd: "I was shocked to learn yesterday that I am going to be banned from running for the Labour Party.

"I have been selected by my local party members, many of whom are here today, but the national party is insisting that I be banned."

Ms Abbott added: "They haven't communicated with me personally, they haven't given a reason for banning me. They just want me excluded from parliament.

"So I am so shocked and so alarmed about what is going on because it is as if you are not allowed to be a Labour MP unless you are prepared to repeat everything the leader says."

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