Image source, PA Media

While Keir Starmer makes his NHS pitch, the head of the Royal College of Nursing - who led nurses into unprecedented strike action last year - is to step down to try and become an MP for Sinn Féin.

Pat Cullen writes on social media that she will be seeking the nomination in Fermanagh/South Tyrone.

"It has been an honour to champion the rights of nurses as leader of the RCN," she says.

"I am ready to lead as your MP, working to better the lives of workers, families & communities."

Historically, Sinn Féin MPs have refused to take their seats at Westminster. You can read more here.

Leila Nathoo
Political correspondent, reporting from Worcester

Image source, PA Media

There was a nice moment in Worcester this afternoon when when Keir Starmer met baby Soren at the Labour campaign event.

The 11-month old’s middle name is Aneurin - after Aneurin Bevan, the founder of the NHS - and he was born on the 75th anniversary of the health service’s establishment.

The little one was on best behaviour while Sir Keir made his case - even if he was a little distracted by the photographer.

As Starmer speaks to voters, what impact could the Abbott row have?published at 14:16 British Summer Time 29 May

14:16 BST 29 May

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Elections are politics under the microscope. When things go wrong, they matter even more than normal because so many people are paying attention – and the stakes are so high.

That’s part of the reason the confusion over Diane Abbott’s situation is such a big deal.

Labour’s campaign so far has been pretty slick. Senior figures had been delighted. They’re a lot less delighted today.

As you would expect – there is anger from the left of the Labour Party about Abbott’s treatment. There has been for some time.

But there are figures a lot less sympathetic to Abbott who are extremely unimpressed about how this is all playing out.

Even among Starmer loyalists, there is noticeable frustration that today’s campaigning is being dominated by a story about internal divisions.

This is a row Labour would much rather not be having today.

More from Starmer now, who gives voters an apparent oxymoron. “In 2024 it feels odd, but it’s true: stability is change," he says.

"We have to have a stable foundation for our economy, because if you don’t, if you lose control of the economy, it’s working people who pay the price."

From Wales to the West Midlands now, where we're hearing from Sir Keir Starmer, after he visited medical students this morning.

(As a reminder, Labour earlier announced it would set an 18-week target for most NHS patients in England to start treatment.)

Starmer begins by explaining how he "grew up working class" and therefore understands the struggle of what it's like not to be able to pay your bills.

"We lost the phone [service]," he says, echoing his keynote speech from Monday.

Turning to the Conservative government, he says: "We cannot have another five years of this," before adding: "We have changed the [Labour] party fundamentally and it's unrecognisable from the party of five years ago."

Turning to the Liberal Democrats, leader Ed Davey launched the party's Welsh campaign in Knighton, on the Powys side of the border with England, earlier today.

Speaking to supporters, he said Welsh people had been "let down and taken for granted" by the Conservatives.

Davey claimed the Conservatives have allowed water companies to "pump their filthy sewage into our beautiful rivers and lakes and beaches" - and said the NHS in Wales is "as bad as anywhere in the UK".

The Lib Dems won no seats in Wales at the last Westminster election in 2019 - something they're hoping to change this time round.

Would apprenticeship numbers halve under Labour?published at 13:58 British Summer Time 29 May

13:58 BST 29 May

As we just reported, PM Rishi Sunak claims Labour "want to halve the number of apprenticeships".

This is based on Labour’s proposed “Growth and Skills Levy”, which would give companies the freedom to use up to half of their total contributions to the apprenticeship levy on non-apprenticeship training - in areas such as “green skills”, social care and childcare.

At least 50% would be reserved for apprenticeships.

BBC Verify asked Labour whether this would see the number of apprenticeships halve.

The party would not comment on this, and says it would not have a crude target for apprenticeship numbers.

Labour says its policy is to give companies more freedom and focus on the value of training in work. It would also introduce new technical excellence colleges aimed at training workers for local industries.

Image source, PA Media

After handing out bacon butties to hungry journalists (see previous post), the prime minister was asked in Cornwall about his party’s new policy to scrap so-called "rip-off" degrees.

“I’m not someone who believes everyone has to go to university, and all the apprentices I’ve been talking to this morning are proof of that, describing it as the best decision they’ve ever made,” Sunak says.

Regulators will have the opportunity to review underperforming courses and cut them, the prime minister says, so the money saved on those courses can be reallocated to fund 100,000 new apprenticeships.

Sunak adds that “in contrast, Labour is still clinging to the notion that everyone has to go to university - they want to halve the number of apprenticeships and that is not the way forward”.

We'll have more on Sunak's Labour claim in our next post.

Ione Wells
Political correspondent, reporting from Penzance

Early this morning, myself and other journalists arrived in Penzance via a sleeper train from London with the prime minister.

This is the kind of scene you only see on an election campaign trail - a gaggle of journalists, the prime minister, his team, and a few bemused tourists, all disembarking a train early in the morning.

The morning small talk centred around how everyone slept.

"The top bunk was great," the prime minister told me, as he overheard us discussing which we chose.

(I also opted for top, more space, I think?)

"Bacon please, prime minister," we find ourselves saying as he hands out breakfast baps. The unique quirks of an election campaign.

Sam Hancock
Live reporter

It's been a busy day, filled with the confusion around MP Diane Abbott's claim that she has been barred by Labour from standing for the party at the general election.

In case you missed it - after texting a BBC reporter to deliver the news herself, Abbott took to social media to say she had been "dismayed" by newspaper reports talking about her political future.

When asked if Abbott had been barred, Starmer said "no" and that "no decision had been taken" - hence everyone's confusion.

Our teams are continuing to try to get a response from Labour, and we'll bring you that once we have it.

As we head into the afternoon, we'll bring you more from the campaign trail - as candidates from all the major parties continue to make their pitches to voters across the country.

Starmer's rejection of Abbott's claim may actually give her breathing spacepublished at 13:31 British Summer Time 29 May

13:31 BST 29 May

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

After more than a year in which, to her frustration, there was no news about Diane Abbott’s status in the Labour Party, things are now moving very quickly. And chaotically.

So what to make of Sir Keir Starmer’s intervention (which you can watch in the previous post)?

It’s genuinely hard to say.

Most people are assuming that Starmer’s comments were a statement of technical fact.

After all, no formal decision about Abbott’s candidacy can be made until Labour’s national executive meets next week.

Starmer forcefully dismissing claims that Abbott has been barred from standing might give Abbott space to announce her retirement – should she wish to do so, which she may not – in a more dignified manner than seemed likely this morning.

Image source, Reuters

The former shadow home secretary was suspended in April 2023 after saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism "all their lives".

After apologising and withdrawing her remarks, Labour launched an investigation.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had said the investigation into her comments was not "resolved" - but BBC Newsnight reported yesterday that it was completed in December 2023.

Hours later, it was revealed that Abbott's suspension had been lifted.

She subsequently texted a BBC reporter, saying Labour had barred her from standing for the party at the general election.

Asked if the news was true, Starmer said "no decision had been taken to bar Diane Abbott".

We're still trying to contact the Labour Party to find out what's going on.

Image source, UK Pool

We've a bit more for you now on that exchange between Keir Starmer and a reporter in the West Midlands, during which the Labour leader denied Diane Abbott's claim that she's been barred from standing as a Labour candidate at the election.

Asked to confirm whether the news is true - "yes or no" - Starmer tells the reporter "no, that's not true".

"No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott," he continues.

"The process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip the other day, so she's a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party, and no decision has been taken barring her."

As a reminder, Abbott texted a BBC reporter earlier to say she'd been barred.

In the last few moments, Sir Keir Starmer has told reporters that Diane Abbott has not been barred from standing as a Labour candidate at the election.

"No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott", he said.

We'll bring you more on this shortly.

Andrew Kerr
BBC Scotland political correspondent

There's more reaction now, from Scotland, to the news about veteran MP Diane Abbott.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says he has no knowledge of what’s happening - and that he doesn't know about the process or if it’s been concluded.

Decisions on candidates in England are a matter for Labour's National Executive Committee, he adds. That's the party's governing body.

Abbott has been a great trailblazer for the party for 40 years, a historical figure in the Labour Party and a historical figure in British politics, he tells reporters from the east end of Glasgow - where Scottish Labour are focusing on their warm homes plan.

We're yet to hear from the Labour leadership about Abbott's claim that the party's barred her from standing as a candidate at the election - we're chasing the party for comment and we're hoping to hear from Starmer soon.

Image source, Reuters

Since Tuesday, we've been covering the political future of Labour's Diane Abbott - the long-serving MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

She was suspended by Labour in April 2023 after saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism "all their lives". Here's a recap of the last 24 hours:

• On Tuesday, the Times reported that Abbott "will not be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate" in the 4 July general election
• Later that evening, the BBC learned Abbott had, though, been readmitted as a Labour MP - party officials tried to broker a deal by where she would get the whip back in return for standing down
• Earlier today, Abbott texted the BBC's Joe Pike to say: "Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing as a Labour candidate"
• Now, she's written on X: "I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I have been barred as a candidate"

As a reminder, we're still waiting to hear from Labour - the party has not confirmed who its candidate will be in Abbott's constituency. Nominations legally close on 7 June. We'll bring you more details when we have them.

A bit more now from John Swinney, Scotland's first minister, who says Diane Abbott's treatment by the Labour Party has been "unfair".

Abbott texted a BBC reporter this morning to say she's been barred by Labour from standing for the party at the general election.

"It's been a terrible shame the way in which Diane Abbott has been handled by the Labour Party and by Sir Keir Starmer," the SNP leader told Sky News.

"I remember Diane Abbott when I was in the House of Commons all those years ago, a really distinguished, significant parliamentarian. The first female black member of parliament, who made an outstanding contribution to the House of Commons.

"So I think she's been really badly treated and I think it's been really unfair."

David Henderson
BBC Scotland correspondent, reporting from Edinburgh

Over in Scotland, SNP leader John Swinney is out on the campaign trail - and kicked things off today by riding the Levenmouth Rail Link, which reopens 5 miles (8km) of line through Fife.

This £116m project aims to reconnect towns cut off by Beeching-era cuts.

For context: These cuts took place during the 1960s when a series of route closures and service changes were made as part of the restructuring of the nationalised railway system in Great Britain.

Swinney’s calling for UK Labour to "follow Scotland’s lead" by bringing rail services under public ownership. He’s demanding that they “end austerity” with major new spending on infrastructure.

All this, you’ll note, assumes Labour is cleared for a win at the general election. It’s a recurring theme in this SNP campaign. Swinney says his party will force Labour to the left at Westminster.

So his pitch to the voters is clear: the Tories and Labour are two sides of the same coin with identical plans for government - meaning a vote for the SNP will give Scots a stronger voice in the UK Parliament, whoever wins the election.

The Conservatives say they will scrap some university courses in England to help fund 100,000 apprenticeships per year if they win the election.

The party has promised that it would replace the "worst-performing" degrees that it considers a "rip-off" because of high drop-out rates and "poor" job prospects.

In England, the Office for Students can already investigate and sanction a university - for example with fines - if it falls below certain standards. But the Tories plan to introduce a new law allowing the independent regulator to go further and completely close the poorest-performing university courses.

The courses would be judged on dropout rates, job progression and future earnings potential, according to a press release.

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