tonight there is still confusion over whether the long serving labour mp diane abbott can or can't stand again in the general election. she had been readmitted as a labour mp after being suspended last year. today she has said she has been barred from standing, but sir keir starmer later said that wasn't true and no decision had yet been taken. there is a rally tonight in support of her in her local constituency in east london. will you be standing as an independent?— will you be standing as an independent? will you be standing as an indeendent? ~ . , ., will you be standing as an indeendent? . ., , ., ., independent? what is labour said to ou? she independent? what is labour said to you? she was _ independent? what is labour said to you? she was labour's _ independent? what is labour said to you? she was labour's pic _ independent? what is labour said to you? she was labour's pic after - independent? what is labour said to you? she was labour's pic after last| you? she was labour's pic after last elections for home secretary but this year she may not be allowed to run for the party at all. this morning she told the bbc i am banned from standing as a labour candidate. it took almost five hours until that was officially challenged. ida. was officially challenged. no, that's not _ was officially challenged. no, that's not true. _ was officially challenged. no, that's not true. no _ was officially challenged. iifr, that's not true. no decision has been taken to bar diane abbott. the process we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip the other day so she is a member of the parliamentary labour party and no decision has been taken barring her. this row has been rumbling for more than a year after the veteran mp said ajewish, irish than a year after the veteran mp said a jewish, irish and other people do not face racism or their lives. it's appalling, vindictive and cruel and keir— it's appalling, vindictive and cruel and keir starmer's actions enforcing diane _ and keir starmer's actions enforcing diane abbott out seem to be a slap in the _ diane abbott out seem to be a slap in the face — diane abbott out seem to be a slap in the face-— in the face. over decades, diane abbott built _ in the face. over decades, diane abbott built a — in the face. over decades, diane abbott built a reputation - in the face. over decades, diane abbott built a reputation as - in the face. over decades, diane abbott built a reputation as a . abbott built a reputation as a passionate and outspoken politician, but almost always from the backbenches. it was only with the assent of a friend and allyjeremy corbyn that she got close to power. reaching the shadow cabinet in 2015, nearly 30 years after her historic arrival in parliament. has nearly 30 years after her historic arrival in parliament. as britain's first black woman _ arrival in parliament. as britain's first black woman mp. _ arrival in parliament. as britain's first black woman mp. but - arrival in parliament. as britain's first black woman mp. but since| arrival in parliament. as britain's - first black woman mp. but since keir starmer took — first black woman mp. but since keir starmer took over, _ first black woman mp. but since keir starmer took over, she _ first black woman mp. but since keir starmer took over, she has - first black woman mp. but since keir starmer took over, she has been - starmer took over, she has been consistently critical of him on social media. seeds are safe as this are rarely out of interest and a general election in the diane abbott row are to change that. confusion has been damaging for money and distracting from their key campaign aims and others say it's one of keir starmer is arguments that over the past five years, labour has changed. among her constituents views about her treatment are mixed. i just her treatment are mixed. i 'ust don't her treatment are mixed. i 'ust don-t know�* her treatment are mixed. i 'ust don't know what i her treatment are mixed. i 'ust don't know what they �* her treatment are mixed. i 'ust don't know what they did, h her treatment are mixed. iijlsii don't know what they did, what she did that upset so many people that they could be so cruel, so ruthless. i think she has the opportunity to retire _ i think she has the opportunity to retire with — i think she has the opportunity to retire with dignity on what is a very— retire with dignity on what is a very significant record. i personally would like the opportunity to vote for a different labour _ opportunity to vote for a different labour candidate. for opportunity to vote for a different labour candidate.— opportunity to vote for a different labour candidate. for now, it seems diane abbot's _ labour candidate. for now, it seems diane abbot's time _ labour candidate. for now, it seems diane abbot's time representing - labour candidate. for now, it seemsj diane abbot's time representing this community could soon come to an end. and we can go live to that rally now and our corresponding early is there for us and we come to you, make as dial abbott has finished speaking. can you tell us —— diane abbott... she finished speaking. can you tell us -- diane abbott. . ._ -- diane abbott... she is still speaking _ -- diane abbott... she is still speaking at — -- diane abbott... she is still speaking at the _ -- diane abbott... she is still speaking at the moment - -- diane abbott... she is still speaking at the moment and l -- diane abbott... she is still i speaking at the moment and i'm -- diane abbott... she is still - speaking at the moment and i'm going to get out of the way and let you see what's going on because as you say we are outside hackney town hall, which is part of the constituency diane abbott is represented for 37 years and this is the first time we have heard her speak publicly today about what is going over the labour she has been telling the 200 or so supporters here that she is shocked by what's happened over the past 2a hours, that the labour party that she found out yesterday that she wasn't going to be able to stand for the labour party, she has been telling people here that she has not been given a reason but she thinks ultimately that labour simply want to exclude her from that labour simply want to exclude herfrom parliament that labour simply want to exclude her from parliament and she that labour simply want to exclude herfrom parliament and she has been pointing out that she has been a member of the labour party for 50 years and she has always been loyal to the party, even if she has had some disagreements with the party over that... some disagreements with the party overthat... lets some disagreements with the party over that... lets have a listen in actually do what diane abbott is saying. actually do what diane abbott is sa inc. ~ , saying. when... i remember when i first ran as — saying. when... i remember when i first ran as a _ saying. when... i remember when i first ran as a labour— saying. when... i remember when i first ran as a labour mp _ saying. when... i remember when i first ran as a labour mp all - saying. when... i remember when i first ran as a labour mp all the - saying. when... i remember when i first ran as a labour mp all the way| first ran as a labour mp all the way back iri— first ran as a labour mp all the way back in 1987, people thought i back in1987, people thought i couldnt— back in 1987, people thought i couldn't win, people thought you couldrr't— couldn't win, people thought you couldn't elect a black woman to parliament because it had never been done before, but local people went out campaigned, knocked on doors and made _ out campaigned, knocked on doors and made me _ out campaigned, knocked on doors and made me britain's first black woman member— made me britain's first black woman member of— made me britain's first black woman member of parliament. cheering em cheering _ . and i have to keep faith with cheering . and i have to kee- faith with that . and i have to keep faith with that lo al . i . and i have to keep faith with that loyalty- i have _ . and i have to keep faith with that loyalty. i have to _ . and i have to keep faith with that loyalty. i have to keep _ . and i have to keep faith with that loyalty. i have to keep faith - . and i have to keep faith with that loyalty. i have to keep faith with i loyalty. i have to keep faith with my principles, i have to keep faith with supporting and speaking up for equalities, poor people, for the community here in hackney, so i promise — community here in hackney, so i promise you that as long as it is possible. — promise you that as long as it is possible. i— promise you that as long as it is possible, i will be the member of parliament for hackney north and stoke _ parliament for hackney north and stoke newington. tell parliament for hackney north and stoke newington.— stoke newington. tell the labour pa if stoke newington. tell the labour party if they _ stoke newington. tell the labour party if they don't _ stoke newington. tell the labour party if they don't want _ stoke newington. tell the labour party if they don't want diane... l party if they don't want diane... diane _ party if they don't want diane... diane abbott _ party if they don't want diane... diane abbott they're _ party if they don't want diane... diane abbott they're addressingj diane abbott they're addressing about 200 supporters here at hackney town hall about the situation, i say the situation because as we have heard her say in this crowd, she says she has been barred from standing for the labour party at the general election in this area. the party, sir keir starmer, the labour leader has said that that is not the case in the final decision has actually been made yet so a lot of confusion and it seems to me plausible of the process is still playing albert miss abbott is saying that she is absolutely certain she is not being allowed to stand by the labour party and it is proving to be, as you can see from the crowd here, a big row, iwas chatting be, as you can see from the crowd here, a big row, i was chatting to people in the labour party today, notjust people on the left and not just diane abbot's natural allies, but also some towards the centre and people who naturally support keir starmer and there is a lot of frustration about how this has panned out. a lot of anger that it is overshadowing labour's campaign over the course of the day and it seems like this is going to roll on because as you see, we have just had diane abbott out here accusing the labour leadership of wanting her out of parliament, saying she is not going to go quietly and you heard her wrap up saying she will be the member of parliament here for as possible. all eyes now with the labour party and keir starmer say next. �* ., . ~' next. and i wonder, nick, whether keir starmer— next. and i wonder, nick, whether keir starmer will _ next. and i wonder, nick, whether keir starmer will be _ next. and i wonder, nick, whether keir starmer will be looking - next. and i wonder, nick, whether keir starmer will be looking at - next. and i wonder, nick, whether| keir starmer will be looking at that rally, saying the strength of support and strength of, i guess the promise that diane abbott made their but she said as long as possible i would be the mp for hackney north and you think this will affect his decision—making? i’m and you think this will affect his decision-making?— and you think this will affect his decision-making? i'm not sure, is the honest— decision-making? i'm not sure, is the honest answer. _ decision-making? i'm not sure, is the honest answer. i _ decision-making? i'm not sure, is the honest answer. ithink- decision-making? i'm not sure, is the honest answer. i think there l decision-making? i'm not sure, is| the honest answer. i think there is evidence it might not. look at what happened with jeremy evidence it might not. look at what happened withjeremy corbyn, who is now standing as an independent candidate in london and launching his campaign to now, by the way. he is doing that about three or four miles down the road from where i am in islington. so i think it's pretty clear that keir starmer is not that bothered about riling someone on the left of his decisions. the question i think more broadly keir starmer is facing is does he have the backing of the majority of his party with this decision? i think it's slightly different because you have seen the support for diane abbott here but there is a lot of reluctance in the parliamentary labour party to throw her out or to stop her from standing at the general election. why? well, as you heard, i'm not sure if you heard some of the speeches before diane abbott, but there are a lot of people who point out she was a trailblazer, she was the first female black mp in parliament. she has been there for 37 years, she is a pretty big deal in labour circles up a pretty big deal in labour circles up part of the labour party history and there is a reluctance to see her leave under a cloud. so, yes, keir starmer has a lot to weigh up and he would say this is for an independent process to be played out in the final decision has not been made but it's pretty clear from what we have seen here that if the decision is made to stop diane abbott standing, there will be a big row about it and there will be a big row about it and there will be a big row about it and there will be a lot of uproar in the local community, certainly from the couple of hundred people who are here and it may do even more to overshadow labour's election campaign and that's the thing that will really worry labour hq this evening, which is that on day seven of this campaign, there is a big row over internalfactions of this campaign, there is a big row over internal factions in the of this campaign, there is a big row over internalfactions in the labour party which is causing a lot of concern right up to the top of the .a . . ~' concern right up to the top of the also deceiving the former labour leader, jeremy corbyn is expected to launch his own campaign in islington north and he will be standing as an independent and therefore almost certainly running against a candidate from his former party. not all of the candidates will be standing in islington north for mr corbin plans to contest the seat have been confirmed yet. these are the declared candidates so far and we will be updating that list once all candidates are confirmed and we will make it available on our website. junior doctors in england will begin a strikejust a junior doctors in england will begin a strike just a week before millions of people go to the polls. the five—day walk—out will start the 7am onjune five—day walk—out will start the 7am on june 27 and five—day walk—out will start the 7am onjune 27 and earned early on tuesday the 2nd ofjuly and that's just two days before election day and junior doctors make up almost half the nhs workforce meaning there will be thousands more cancellations for treatments and appointments. it's their 11th strike since march last year and the government says it is a highly cynical tactic during an election campaign and the doctors say they have been no new pay offers despite talks and our health editor hugh pym has this report. by by the summer walk—outs were continuing but for a time with talks under way there were hopes of a settlement and by february this year with the ten strike the dispute was not settled and then came mediation talks and they failed and another strike has been called. the government _ strike has been called. the government walked - strike has been called. tue: government walked away strike has been called. t'te: government walked away and strike has been called. tt2 government walked away and collapsed talks and there was nothing more we could do to be able to have those talks with them because they refused and so now we are asking if they will not talk to us and to make a public commitment that gives the confidence in our committee that there is a plan for pay restoration so that we can quality strikes. the government said it wasn't reasonable and awarded an average of 9% last year. the health secretary had this response to the doctor's union. t am response to the doctor's union. i am disma ed response to the doctor's union. i am dismayed but _ response to the doctor's union. i am dismayed but also _ response to the doctor's union. i am dismayed but also on _ response to the doctor's union. i am dismayed but also on behalf of the patients— dismayed but also on behalf of the patients i— dismayed but also on behalf of the patients i am angry. we know that industrial— patients i am angry. we know that industrial action last year had the impact _ industrial action last year had the impact of— industrial action last year had the impact of 1.4 million appointments being _ impact of 1.4 million appointments being cancelled as a result of strikes — being cancelled as a result of strikes and to call the strike now, during _ strikes and to call the strike now, during a _ strikes and to call the strike now, during a general election campaign, ithink— during a general election campaign, i think it _ during a general election campaign, i think it shows a very cynical politicisation.— i think it shows a very cynical politicisation. out in sheffield today there — politicisation. out in sheffield today there was _ politicisation. out in sheffield today there was a _ politicisation. out in sheffield today there was a mixed - politicisation. out in sheffield today there was a mixed view| politicisation. out in sheffield i today there was a mixed view of politicisation. out in sheffield - today there was a mixed view of the junior doctors strike plan. t junior doctors strike plan. i support what they're junior doctors strike plan. t support what they're doing in many ways but i think they will have to be careful it doesn't backfire on them. ~ , ., ,, be careful it doesn't backfire on them. , ., ,, them. why would you upset the apple cart when you — them. why would you upset the apple cart when you don't _ them. why would you upset the apple cart when you don't know _ them. why would you upset the apple cart when you don't know who's - them. why would you upset the apple cart when you don't know who's going j cart when you don't know who's going to have _ cart when you don't know who's going to have the _ cart when you don't know who's going to have the reins of power to make the decisions in your favour a few weeks _ the decisions in your favour a few weeks hence? i the decisions in your favour a few weeks hence?— weeks hence? i can't imagine the im act of weeks hence? i can't imagine the impact of this _ weeks hence? i can't imagine the impact of this and _ weeks hence? i can't imagine the impact of this and a _ weeks hence? i can't imagine the impact of this and a lot _ weeks hence? i can't imagine the impact of this and a lot of - impact of this and a lot of people have _ impact of this and a lot of people have to _ impact of this and a lot of people have to wait _ impact of this and a lot of people have to wait and _ impact of this and a lot of people have to wait and will _ impact of this and a lot of people have to wait and will need - have to wait and will need diagnosis _ have to wait and will need diagnosis. if— have to wait and will need diagnosis-— have to wait and will need diaunosis. ., ., , diagnosis. if not now, when, they are doinu diagnosis. if not now, when, they are doing it _ diagnosis. if not now, when, they are doing it for _ diagnosis. if not now, when, they are doing it for unfair— diagnosis. if not now, when, they are doing it for unfair pay. - diagnosis. if not now, when, they are doing it for unfair pay. labourj are doing it for unfair pay. labour said the chaos _ are doing it for unfair pay. labour said the chaos will _ are doing it for unfair pay. labour| said the chaos will continue under the conservatives what would they do to resolve the dispute? that the conservatives what would they do to resolve the dispute?— to resolve the dispute? that 35% pay claim is to resolve the dispute? that 3596 pay claim is not one _ to resolve the dispute? that 3596 pay claim is not one that _ to resolve the dispute? that 3596 pay claim is not one that i _ to resolve the dispute? that 3596 pay claim is not one that i would - claim is not one that i would be able to meet onjuly the 5th, i would be willing to sit down and negotiate because the journey back to fair pay is exactly that, it's going to be on a journey inland events must work together on pay. the liberal democrats were clear where the blame lies. this the liberal democrats were clear where the blame lies.— where the blame lies. this is a complete _ where the blame lies. this is a complete mess, _ where the blame lies. this is a complete mess, isn't- where the blame lies. this is a complete mess, isn't it? - where the blame lies. this is a complete mess, isn't it? and i where the blame lies. this is a| complete mess, isn't it? and if where the blame lies. this is a - complete mess, isn't it? and if the patients— complete mess, isn't it? and if the patients who — complete mess, isn't it? and if the patients who i _ complete mess, isn't it? and if the patients who i fear _ complete mess, isn't it? and if the patients who i fear for. _ complete mess, isn't it? and if the patients who i fear for. the - complete mess, isn't it? and if the patients who i fear for. the fact - complete mess, isn't it? and if the patients who i fear for. the fact is| patients who i fear for. the fact is that the _ patients who i fear for. the fact is that the conservatives _ patients who i fear for. the fact is that the conservatives have - patients who i fear for. the fact is that the conservatives have had . patients who i fear for. the fact is| that the conservatives have had in months. _ that the conservatives have had in months. if— that the conservatives have had in months. if not _ that the conservatives have had in months, if not years _ that the conservatives have had in months, if not years to _ that the conservatives have had in months, if not years to resolve . that the conservatives have had in months, if not years to resolve allj months, if not years to resolve all of the _ months, if not years to resolve all of the strikes _ months, if not years to resolve all of the strikes and _ months, if not years to resolve all of the strikes and effect _ months, if not years to resolve all of the strikes and effect the - of the strikes and effect the structure _ of the strikes and effect the structure happening - of the strikes and effect the structure happening yet - of the strikes and effect the i structure happening yet again of the strikes and effect the - structure happening yet again and it 'ust structure happening yet again and it just shows _ structure happening yet again and it just shows that _ structure happening yet again and it just shows that they _ structure happening yet again and it just shows that they are _ structure happening yet again and it just shows that they are leading - structure happening yet again and it just shows that they are leading ourj just shows that they are leading our nhs in _ just shows that they are leading our nhs in a _ just shows that they are leading our nhs in a state — just shows that they are leading our nhs in a state of— just shows that they are leading our nhs in a state of crisis _ just shows that they are leading our nhs in a state of crisis and - nhs in a state of crisis and chaos. and this _ nhs in a state of crisis and chaos. and this is — nhs in a state of crisis and chaos. and this is what _ nhs in a state of crisis and chaos. and this is what it— nhs in a state of crisis and chaos. and this is what it will— nhs in a state of crisis and chaos. and this is what it will mean - nhs in a state of crisis and chaos. and this is what it will mean for. and this is what it will mean for patients. empty operating theatres and yet more cancellations of appointments and procedures. bbc news. rishi sunak has been campaigning in south—west england today and he said his party would replace what he called rip off university degrees and fund 100,000 more apprenticeships instead. the southwest is a key battleground for the conservatives and our political editor has been following the prime minister on his campaign train today. bodmin in cornwall, one week into the general election campaign. and the verdict from some folk here? it's ok, really, i think it's a good idea to have it.— idea to have it. they are looking for our idea to have it. they are looking for your vote — idea to have it. they are looking for your vote but _ idea to have it. they are looking for your vote but i _ idea to have it. they are looking for your vote but i think - idea to have it. they are looking for your vote but i think they - idea to have it. they are looking j for your vote but i think they are fighting — for your vote but i think they are fighting with each other and is ridiculous.— fighting with each other and is ridiculous. ~ ., ., .,~ ridiculous. what do you make the whole election _ ridiculous. what do you make the whole election fun _ ridiculous. what do you make the whole election fun and _ ridiculous. what do you make the whole election fun and games? . ridiculous. what do you make the l whole election fun and games? it's ridiculous. what do you make the i whole election fun and games? it's a total nightmare. _ whole election fun and games? it's a total nightmare. i—