let s get more on this from our deputy political editor vicki young who s in the newsroom. first of all, can you remind us what actually took place here. this first of all, can you remind us what actually took place here. actually took place here. this has been quite actually took place here. this has been quite a actually took place here. this has been quite a saga, actually took place here. this has been quite a saga, and actually took place here. this has been quite a saga, and has - actually took place here. this has - been quite a saga, and has dominated the first week of campaigning for labour. i think most people agree that the leadership hasn t handled it very well. as you said there, diane abbott under investigation for many months, over a year in fact, after she wrote a letter and in it she said thatjewish, irish and traveller people do not face racism all their lives. because of that, she was suspended from the parliamentary labour party. as i say, this
leader, was suspended from the party and never reinstated, and he has decided to stand as an independent candidate, so this could still cause sir keir starmer lot of trouble and the fact that sir keir starmer s deputy leader, angela rayner, came out and supported diane abbott saying that she saw no reason why she couldn t stand, and many think about that forced his hand on all of this. the other thing that was circulating as a suggestion was that diane abbott might get a peerage and be able to go into the house of lords and when she responded today she said that this is factually incorrect. she said i have never been offered a seat in the lords, and would not accept one if offered. and decided after deliberating for a few days that she will stand as a labour candidate, and she would if she was to be elected be the longest serving female mp in the house of commons. . ~ serving female mp in the house of commons. ., ~ , ., a ., ., commons. thank you, vicki young, our deu commons. thank yo