in new york found him guilty of falsifying business records. in rambling remarks at trump tower, the former president angrily attacked his opponents and continued to claim without evidence that his trial had been rigged. germany hasjoined the us in giving ukraine permission to use weapons supplied to the country to strike some military targets inside russia. the relaxation of restrictions are to defend the kharkiv region, which has come under increasing pressure from russian forces from just over the border in recent weeks. hackers are attempting to sell what they say is confidential information on millions of customers and staff of santander. the spanish bank confirmed that data had been stolen and apologised. the hackers, shinyhunters, claim to have bank account details for 30 million satander clients in spain, uruguay and chile, and information about all its staff. this hour, we're taking a closer look at the latest from the campaign trail in the uk election, and as we know in any election campaign, it's the unplanned moments which can hog the limelight away from the agenda the parties want to push. this week for labour, attention has focused on the fate of diane abbott and whether she'd be able to stand under the party's ticket injuly. fter days of uncertainty, sir keir starmer says diane abbott is "free to go forward as a labour candidate". earlier this week, she claimed the party had banned herfrom doing so. ms abbott was suspended from labour last year after suggesting jewish, irish and traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism "all their lives". ms abbott has yet to say if she'll stand. joe pike reports. applause. forfour days, the questions have kept coming, but it may have been the deputy leader's support for diane abbott, as well as the scottish leader's sympathy towards her, that pushed keir starmer to act. angela rayner down here on the front row says that diane abbott should be allowed to stand if she wants to. anas sarwar, standing beside you, says he agrees with angela rayner. do you agree with them or are you sticking to the line that no decision has been taken? well, no decision has been taken, so that's the factual position. no decision to bar diane. this afternoon, that changed. she's free to go forward as a labour candidate. the whip is back with her. it's been restored. senior labour insiders concede this week's events have been a distraction. chanting: we stand with diane! including wednesday's rally on diane abbott's home turf of hackney. theyjust want me excluded from parliament. tonight, the veteran left—winger has told me whilst keir starmer�*s intervention is "positive", she doesn't want to speak on camera until after her candidacy is rubber—stamped next week. and we still don't know if she'll definitely stand. it just reconfirms what we know about keir starmer, and that's. that he constantly changes his mind. and it's clear that angela rayner's in charge of his party and not him. in hackney north, this row has left some voters unhappy. as the first black british female mp in history, the amount that she's done for the community and for those that don't have a voice is something that's resonated with so many of us around here. you know, i think it's pretty awful, really, how they've treated her. i don't particularly think she's been treated unfairly. - she has said things in the past- which are not on the political...not politically correct. the tussle over who will be labour's candidate in this seat is all about the age old internal battles between right and left. keir starmer�*s iron grip on the party machinery is perhaps not quite as strong as we thought, and angela rayner's arguably decisive role in this row could give us a taste of the dynamics at the top of government to come if labour were to win this election. if diane abbott does stand and win, she will become the longest—serving labour mp and the mother of the house. joe pike, bbc news, hackney. i'm joined now byjohn manley, politics correspondent for the irish news in killough — anna mikhailova, deputy political editor for the mail on sunday in london — and taj ali, co—editor of tribune magazine, also in london. i'm going to start with you on this. we have now finally heard from certain keir starmer. he says diane abbott is free to stand as a labour candidate. there are many who say he should have come out and been clear about this all sooner. yes. should have come out and been clear about this all sooner.— about this all sooner. yes, i think this is been _ about this all sooner. yes, i think this is been a _ about this all sooner. yes, i think this is been a constant _ about this all sooner. yes, i think this is been a constant problem i about this all sooner. yes, i think. this is been a constant problem with the labour party communications strategy. for many months, they kept saying it was an independent process in the investigation had not concluded. the recently we heard the investigation was concluded in december. other gets clear that diane abbott is on the left of the party and the right of the party that now controls the party want to ensure the people who are aligned with the leadership's views are selected. where i think it's with the leadership's views are selected. where i think its cause significant damage for the party is not actually on the left of the party but actually in the community. we sought many leading black figures right in the guardian recently, expressing deep concern about britain's first black female mp being treated in this way. and of course diane abbott has been in the news for several think samples that we saw a few months ago how a tory done or said she should be shot, which was a great source of controversy. we also know that diane abbott received half of all abusive tweets to any female mp in the run—up to the 20 17th general election. so i think there is a great concern around the way she is being treated for the last few years actually. labour has historically had a problem with anti—black which homophobia in the party and the full report was commissioned to investigate this is that we saw 1100 submission, and that's the context in which this has to be understood. let's bring anna in on this. this has distracted people from perhaps some of the policy proposals that the labour party have put forward this week. do you think of the end of this now this is going to hurt or maybe not make a difference when it comes to the party's fortunes? weill. comes to the party's fortunes? well, it's interesting _ comes to the party's fortunes? well, it's interesting because _ comes to the party's fortunes? well, it's interesting because the - it's interesting because the narrative that was building, and it certainly— narrative that was building, and it certainly was a distraction from the campaign _ certainly was a distraction from the campaign and what everyone wanted to talk about _ campaign and what everyone wanted to talk about. the narrative that he was urging — talk about. the narrative that he was urging the left of which there were _ was urging the left of which there were several examples, but of course diane _ were several examples, but of course diane abbott was the most high—profile as the right hand of jeremy— high—profile as the right hand of jeremy corbyn. that i think they were _ jeremy corbyn. that i think they were happy with. they are happy with him being _ were happy with. they are happy with him being seen as ruthless. they are happy— him being seen as ruthless. they are happy with— him being seen as ruthless. they are happy with him being seen as purging the left—wing elements of his party, even if_ the left—wing elements of his party, even if it_ the left—wing elements of his party, even if it upsets his candidates and even _ even if it upsets his candidates and even if— even if it upsets his candidates and even if it_ even if it upsets his candidates and even if it upsets his candidates and even if it upsets part of his electorate. but the development today— electorate. but the development today where, as the report pointed out, he _ today where, as the report pointed out, he is — today where, as the report pointed out, he is now changed when he was saying _ out, he is now changed when he was saying effectively and seems to have been pushed by angela ran into a position that is different to where he was _ position that is different to where he was before, that is certainly nothing — he was before, that is certainly nothing they want.— he was before, that is certainly nothing they want. and, john let me brina ou nothing they want. and, john let me bring you on — nothing they want. and, john let me bring you on this _ nothing they want. and, john let me bring you on this as _ nothing they want. and, john let me bring you on this as well— nothing they want. and, john let me bring you on this as well because - bring you on this as well because certain keir starmer has denied that he purging left—wing candidates, but we have also seen quite a lotta discussion over another labour candidate, orshe discussion over another labour candidate, or she is not labour any more, if this is all to be read into. she said she was banned from standing for labour after complaints that she liked the media posts which allegedly downplayed anti—semitism. yes, well, sir keir starmer may say he is _ yes, well, sir keir starmer may say he is not _ yes, well, sir keir starmer may say he is not purging _ yes, well, sir keir starmer may say he is not purging people, _ yes, well, sir keir starmer may say he is not purging people, but if- yes, well, sir keir starmer may say he is not purging people, but if it . he is not purging people, but if it will like _ he is not purging people, but if it will like a — he is not purging people, but if it will like a duck— he is not purging people, but if it will like a duck and _ he is not purging people, but if it will like a duck and quacks - he is not purging people, but if it will like a duck and quacks like i will like a duck and quacks like a duck, _ will like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's— will like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a — will like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. and _ will like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. and i- will like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. and i think- will like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck. and i think it. will like a duck and quacks like a| duck, it's a duck. and i think it is very— duck, it's a duck. and i think it is very disappointing. _ duck, it's a duck. and i think it is very disappointing. you - duck, it's a duck. and i think it is very disappointing. you know, i duck, it's a duck. and i think it isi very disappointing. you know, i'm old enough — very disappointing. you know, i'm old enough to— very disappointing. you know, i'm old enough to remember- very disappointing. you know, i'm old enough to remember the - very disappointing. you know, i'mi old enough to remember the purge very disappointing. you know, i'm - old enough to remember the purge of the militant— old enough to remember the purge of the militant element— old enough to remember the purge of the militant element within _ old enough to remember the purge of the militant element within the - the militant element within the labour— the militant element within the labour party. _ the militant element within the labour party, and _ the militant element within the labour party, and i— the militant element within the labour party, and i think- the militant element within the labour party, and i think evenl the militant element within the - labour party, and i think even after that, _ labour party, and i think even after that, there — labour party, and i think even after that, there was _ labour party, and i think even after that, there was still— labour party, and i think even after that, there was still a _ labour party, and i think even after that, there was still a broad - labour party, and i think even after that, there was still a broad church| that, there was still a broad church of labour— that, there was still a broad church of labour people _ that, there was still a broad church of labour people like _ that, there was still a broad church of labour people like dennis- of labour people like dennis skinner. _ of labour people like dennis skinner, tony— of labour people like dennis skinner, tony band - of labour people like dennis- skinner, tony band represented the left. skinner, tony band represented the left i_ skinner, tony band represented the left ithink— skinner, tony band represented the left. i think this— skinner, tony band represented the left. i think this purge _ skinner, tony band represented the left. i think this purge of— skinner, tony band represented the left. i think this purge of the - left. i think this purge of the left, — left. i think this purge of the left, which _ left. i think this purge of the left, which i _ left. i think this purge of the left, which i believe - left. i think this purge of the left, which i believe it- left. i think this purge of the left, which i believe it is, - left. i think this purge of the left, which i believe it is, isi left. i think this purge of the i left, which i believe it is, is not good _ left, which i believe it is, is not good for— left, which i believe it is, is not good for british _ left, which i believe it is, is not good for british politics. - left, which i believe it is, is not good for british politics. find i left, which i believe it is, is not good for british politics. and on this, the party _ good for british politics. and on this, the party had _ good for british politics. and on this, the party had a _ good for british politics. and on this, the party had a lot - good for british politics. and on this, the party had a lot of - good for british politics. and on this, the party had a lot of talk| this, the party had a lot of talk and controversy around allegations of anti—semitism, and one would say if you were speaking on the other side of this debate that this is not a purge of left—wing candidates, this is just ensuring that people like fazia shaheen who like the posts are not as with a party who won't tolerate that.— posts are not as with a party who won't tolerate that. there is more to it than that. _ won't tolerate that. there is more to it than that. if— won't tolerate that. there is more to it than that. if you _ won't tolerate that. there is more to it than that. if you look - won't tolerate that. there is more to it than that. if you look at one | to it than that. if you look at one of the posts, one was her looking of tweet with a video of the famous comedian jon tweet with a video of the famous comedianjon stewart tweet with a video of the famous comedian jon stewart talking about the difficulties discovering israel and palestine. another thing that was broken when she was meant to by the nec was discussing her own experience of islamophobia. and you think about watching that news not deliver on the verge of tears and crucially there is a double standard here. if you look at how many white male mps will level the ship have been treated, it's very different. look at neil coin, somebody who had racially abused a journalist. he had a complaint of sexual harassment held against him. the parliamentary procedure had not even concluded and he was given the wet back what was someone like diana is left waiting for over a year. i think that's the biggest concern amongst people, that we seem to be having this double standard. so, yes, ithink fashion is definitely a play and leadership are going to look for people that align with their values and that perhaps are going to so this is about integrity, but i think when you get a clear double standard in the way to splinter procedures are being carried out, i don't think that's right was up and crucially the fight against anti—semitism in the fight against anti—semitism in the fight against islamophobia and anti—black racism is the same struggle post up and i think it sometimes can be quite dangerous when these are often pit against each other. i think we need to have some conversation around anti—semitism and islamophobia and all forms of racism but too often we seem to have these different forms of racism in competition with each other... �* ., ., , .,, of racism in competition with each other... �* ., ., , other... i'm going to stop you there so i can other... i'm going to stop you there so i can let — other... i'm going to stop you there so i can let and _ other... i'm going to stop you there so i can let and i _ other... i'm going to stop you there so i can let and i have _ other... i'm going to stop you there so i can let and i have the say - other... i'm going to stop you there so i can let and i have the say of. so i can let and i have the say of that. what do you make of that? i mean, i think what the dynamic abbott — mean, i think what the dynamic abbott example, the question here is this not— abbott example, the question here is this not so— abbott example, the question here is this not so much being seen as a question— this not so much being seen as a question of— this not so much being seen as a question of the party approach to imitate _ question of the party approach to imitate him in touch —— anti—semitism, but there they have deemed _ anti—semitism, but there they have deemed that it was enough for her to -et deemed that it was enough for her to get the _ deemed that it was enough for her to get the whip back. so she apologised and went— get the whip back. so she apologised and went to anti—semitism training or awareness courses as is and reported _ or awareness courses as is and reported. and therefore they said that she — reported. and therefore they said that she can have the whip back. so, you know. _ that she can have the whip back. so, you know, there were many people who will absolutely criticise that and say that — will absolutely criticise that and say that that is not going to be taking — say that that is not going to be taking anti—semitism seriously but at the _ taking anti—semitism seriously but at the same time, the debate here is about— at the same time, the debate here is about allowing her to stand. so if it was _ about allowing her to stand. so if it was about the issue, than they would _ it was about the issue, than they would not — it was about the issue, than they would not have given her the wet back this — would not have given her the wet back. this is very much a political move _ back. this is very much a political move by— back. this is very much a political move by sir— back. this is very much a political move by sir keir starmer to shape the party— move by sir keir starmer to shape the party that he is almost certainly about to bring in the government with a bubbly a majority. he is trying _ government with a bubbly a majority. he is trying to shape it in his own image _ he is trying to shape it in his own image because sir keir starmer, don't _ image because sir keir starmer, don't forget, has not been in politics— don't forget, has not been in politics that long. he is not being an mp _ politics that long. he is not being an mp for— politics that long. he is not being an mp for that long and he is not seen _ an mp for that long and he is not seen a _ an mp for that long and he is not seen a particularly flammable in people — seen a particularly flammable in people so you cannot easily say who his allies _ people so you cannot easily say who his allies are and who his friends in the _ his allies are and who his friends in the party— his allies are and who his friends in the party are. and i think part of this— in the party are. and i th