Diane Abbott’s chances of getting whip back appear remote despite Hester row

Senior figures including deputy leader want to see MP back in fold but Starmer is firm that he does not want to ‘conflate’ issues

When Keir Starmer walked up the steps of the Commons to the green leather benches where Diane Abbott was sitting at prime minister’s questions this week, some took it as a sign of thawing relations.

The veteran MP has been sitting as an independent since she had the Labour whip removed almost a year ago, as the party sought to head off a fresh antisemitism storm after she played down suggestions of racism against Jewish people.