Labour chiefs are not seeking to force Diane Abbott out of the party, says a minister after she was suspended for doubling down on comments made two years ago on racism.

Exchequer secretary to the Treasury James Murray said it was ‘absolutely not the case’ that Number 10 had wanted Ms Abbott to out of the party.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party suspended Diane Abbott, the country's longest-serving female lawmaker, on Thursday after she stood by her earlier remarks on racism which had led to a previous suspension.