Election campaign day eight: Rayner backs Abbott to run for Labour

Deputy leader Angela Rayner has backed Diane Abbott to stand as a Labour candidate on July 4 as Sir Keir Starmer denied he was carrying out a “cull” of left wingers.

Here are the key moments from day eight of the campaign:

– Row over Abbott rumbles on

Ms Rayner has added to the pressure on her leader, saying she saw no reason why Ms Abbott should not be allowed to stand again for the party and that the row over her candidacy was “not a great look”.

Her comments helped ensure that the dispute continues to overshadow Labour’s other campaign efforts.

It follows the disclosure that two other prominent Corbynistas – , who was MP for Brighton Kemptown, and Fazia Shaheen, who represented Chingford