Diane Abbott has accused Sir Keir Starmer of an “appalling cull of Left-wingers” after a Left-wing Labour candidate was blocked by the party from standing for election.

Faiza Shaheen, who allegedly liked a series of posts on X that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations, was selected to be Labour’s candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green but found out on Wednesday night she would not be endorsed by the party.

Responding to the reports, Ms Abbott said: “Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers?”

In an interview with the BBC’s Newsnight, Ms Shaheen said she was in a “state of shock”.

It comes after Ms Abbott, who served as shadow home secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, warned Sir Keir that she would not be “intimidated” as she vowed to remain the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

The row over her selection has thrown Labour’s campaign into turmoil this week after she claimed she had been blocked from standing a day after being given the whip back.

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