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| Diane Abbott struggles with questions on recent London terror report in latest bungled interview | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Diane Abbott is facing fresh criticism after she struggled to answer questions in yet another interview – this time about a recent report on improving London’s terror preparedness. | Diane Abbott is facing fresh criticism after she struggled to answer questions in yet another interview – this time about a recent report on improving London’s terror preparedness. |
| Asked about the recommendations made by Lord Harris’s October 2016 inquiry, of which there were 127, the Shadow Home Secretary could not name one. | Asked about the recommendations made by Lord Harris’s October 2016 inquiry, of which there were 127, the Shadow Home Secretary could not name one. |
| “Do you think some of the things he said in there were prescient and should be acted on,” asked Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan. | “Do you think some of the things he said in there were prescient and should be acted on,” asked Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan. |
| Ms Abbott replied that it “was about preparedness and resilience” and that we needed to act “not necessarily on every specific recommendation”. | Ms Abbott replied that it “was about preparedness and resilience” and that we needed to act “not necessarily on every specific recommendation”. |
| Asked to be more specific, particularly on the bullet points Lord Harris had included, Ms Abbott said it was “an important review and we should act on it”. | Asked to be more specific, particularly on the bullet points Lord Harris had included, Ms Abbott said it was “an important review and we should act on it”. |
| Mr Murnaghan then asked what she thought about the report’s recommendations on police forces, to which Ms Abbott replied: “What the idea that they should work more closely together?” | Mr Murnaghan then asked what she thought about the report’s recommendations on police forces, to which Ms Abbott replied: “What the idea that they should work more closely together?” |
| The presenter pointed out that Lord Harris had suggested they amalgamate, to which Ms Abbott said there might be resistance. | The presenter pointed out that Lord Harris had suggested they amalgamate, to which Ms Abbott said there might be resistance. |
| “Have you actually read the report?” asked Mr Murnaghan, to which she replied that she had. | “Have you actually read the report?” asked Mr Murnaghan, to which she replied that she had. |
| But when she was asked about the physical resilience, Ms Abbott said she thought it was important. Mr Murnaghan pointed out the report was talking about putting up barriers. | But when she was asked about the physical resilience, Ms Abbott said she thought it was important. Mr Murnaghan pointed out the report was talking about putting up barriers. |
| It comes just over a month after Ms Abbott was criticised for underestimating the number of net losses Labour has suffered in local elections in a television interview with ITN. | It comes just over a month after Ms Abbott was criticised for underestimating the number of net losses Labour has suffered in local elections in a television interview with ITN. |
| After if she knew the number of net losses so far for Labour, the shadow Home Secretary said: “At the time of us doing this interview, I think the net losses are about 50.” | After if she knew the number of net losses so far for Labour, the shadow Home Secretary said: “At the time of us doing this interview, I think the net losses are about 50.” |
| The interviewer corrected her, saying: “They’re actually 125 net losses so far.” | The interviewer corrected her, saying: “They’re actually 125 net losses so far.” |
| Viewers quickly took to social media to criticise the gaffe. | Viewers quickly took to social media to criticise the gaffe. |
| That came within days of her “car crash” interview with LBC, which saw Ms Abbott struggle to give clear numbers on Labour’s plan to add 10,000 new police officer roles. | That came within days of her “car crash” interview with LBC, which saw Ms Abbott struggle to give clear numbers on Labour’s plan to add 10,000 new police officer roles. |
| She gave several estimates for how much the new officers would cost, ranging from £300,000 to £80m. | She gave several estimates for how much the new officers would cost, ranging from £300,000 to £80m. |