Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting has been grilled by GB News presenter Isabel Webster over the treatment afforded to Diane Abbott by the Labour Party.
The long-serving MP was suspended last year for saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism "all their lives". She apologised shortly after making the comments.
The BBC reported this morning that the controversial figure had texted one of their reporters to claim she will not be allowed to stand for the party at the upcoming election.
Abbott has since claimed that she is not banned from standing and is "dismayed" by the reports.
Wes Streeting appeared on Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel to discuss Labour's NHS pledge and labelled the Conservative Party's handling of the situation a "clown show" and a "circus".
Isabel then said: "Speaking of circuses, what about the treatment of Diane Abbott? There's all the hoo-ha about what your leader knew about when this investigation was completed, whether or not he was telling the truth, saying that was still happening.
Isabel grilled the MP on the ban
GB News
"But this morning, lots of confusion. It seems as though she was given the whip. The whip was restored after this racism investigation, and the view, presumably from the National Executive Committee, was that she would quietly resign and not want to stand.
"But it seems from what she's been saying this morning on the airwaves, Diane Abbott wants to stand and the Labour Party is barring her. Is that the right treatment for a veteran Labour MP and the first black female MP in the party?"
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Streeting responded: "Firstly, and on that final point, I absolutely acknowledge and respect her achievements in politics and being that trailblazer, I absolutely do.
"The second thing I would say is, and you mentioned the reports this morning, I've only been picking this up as as I've been going along in terms of the reports, I'm not involved in the process.
"I do not know what decision has been made and on what basis. I've been out talking about how we cut NHS waiting lists this morning.
"I do think that on the 4th of July, what is on offer is a party that has changed fundamentally from the one that was rejected in 2019, and all of those issues that led to Labour being rejected.
Abbott was suspended after being accused of anti-semitism earlier this yearPA"Could we be trusted with the money? Could we be trusted with law and order? Could we be trusted on national security?
"Keir Starmer has not only changed the Labour Party, but led the Labour Party to a point where it is united in pursuit of good management of our public finances, tough approach to law and order and an unwavering commitment to NATO, our armed forces and to defending Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Isabel pushed: "Okay, But a personal yes or no, should she come back?"
He responded: "The decision is not mine. I'm not going to disagree with the decision that's been taken by people in the Labour Party who actually have responsibility for it. They will have looked into this, I haven't, so I'm not going to be a commentator. I'm going to leave it to the decision-makers and stand by their decision."
Wes Streeting appeared on GB News to discuss the NHS pledge
GB News
This morning, Abbott is said to have told the BBC: "Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing as a Labour candidate."
Earlier this week, Starmer suggested the investigation into Diane Abbott was still ongoing. On Friday, he said Abbott is "going through, and being part of and getting to the end of a disciplinary process because of something she said".
He said it "would be sorted out now within a few days because the deadline for candidates is coming".
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