Sir Keir Starmer says he has done something no other leader of the Labour Party has ever done before by 'giving up a Labour seat' in Rochdale.
But the Labour leader fell short of saying that he acted quickly enough over comments made by its by-election candidate. The party pulled its support for Azhar Ali who apologised for 'deeply offensive' comments he made about Israel.
However, the Lancashire Labour leader, who has now been suspended by the party, will still appear next to the Labour logo on the ballot paper.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast after winning two by-elections elsewhere this morning (February 16), Sir Keir acknowledged the last week had been 'bumpy'.
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