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General election 2017: Diane Abbott 'takes indefinite break from campaign' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott is "taking a break from the campaign" because she is unwell, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said. | Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott is "taking a break from the campaign" because she is unwell, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said. |
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the break would be "indefinite". | BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the break would be "indefinite". |
Shadow minister Lyn Brown is to stand in for Ms Abbott, who pulled out of two media appearances on Tuesday. | Shadow minister Lyn Brown is to stand in for Ms Abbott, who pulled out of two media appearances on Tuesday. |
Asked how long Ms Abbott would be taking a break, Mr Corbyn replied: "I'll be talking to her later on today - she's not well at the moment." | Asked how long Ms Abbott would be taking a break, Mr Corbyn replied: "I'll be talking to her later on today - she's not well at the moment." |
He said: "Of course Diane is somebody that works extremely hard and represents her community very well and I have to say has received totally unfair levels of attack and abuse not just recently - over many years." | He said: "Of course Diane is somebody that works extremely hard and represents her community very well and I have to say has received totally unfair levels of attack and abuse not just recently - over many years." |
Ms Abbott had been scheduled to appear on a special election edition of Radio 4's Woman Hour alongside Home Secretary Amber Rudd and other political rivals on Tuesday. | |
But shortly before transmission, it was announced that shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry would take her place. | But shortly before transmission, it was announced that shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry would take her place. |
Ms Abbott had downplayed claims Labour wanted her to adopt a lower profile after several faltering performances. | Ms Abbott had downplayed claims Labour wanted her to adopt a lower profile after several faltering performances. |
During an appearance on Sky News on Monday, Ms Abbott rejected suggestions that the party leadership regarded her as a liability after an LBC interview earlier in the campaign when she failed to put an accurate cost on the party's plans to fund 10,000 new police officers. | During an appearance on Sky News on Monday, Ms Abbott rejected suggestions that the party leadership regarded her as a liability after an LBC interview earlier in the campaign when she failed to put an accurate cost on the party's plans to fund 10,000 new police officers. |
She said she was appearing regularly in the media and it would be "strange" if she was not doing so at a time of heightened concern about security and policing after the terror attacks in London and Manchester. | She said she was appearing regularly in the media and it would be "strange" if she was not doing so at a time of heightened concern about security and policing after the terror attacks in London and Manchester. |
Ms Brown, 57, was first appointed to Labour's shadow home affairs team when Mr Corbyn named his first frontbench team in 2015. | Ms Brown, 57, was first appointed to Labour's shadow home affairs team when Mr Corbyn named his first frontbench team in 2015. |
But she was among a slew of MPs who resigned the following year following a vote of no confidence in his leadership. She said then that Labour should seek a new leader "for the good of the party and the country". | But she was among a slew of MPs who resigned the following year following a vote of no confidence in his leadership. She said then that Labour should seek a new leader "for the good of the party and the country". |
She rejoined the front bench three months later as minister for policing. MP for West Ham since 2005, she is fighting Thursday's election in the ultra-safe east London seat, which she held with a majority of almost 28,000 in 2015. | She rejoined the front bench three months later as minister for policing. MP for West Ham since 2005, she is fighting Thursday's election in the ultra-safe east London seat, which she held with a majority of almost 28,000 in 2015. |
She was a Labour whip under Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband, before being appointed shadow minister for communities and local government in 2013 and then shadow home office minister two years later. | She was a Labour whip under Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband, before being appointed shadow minister for communities and local government in 2013 and then shadow home office minister two years later. |
The Conservatives said Labour were "hiding" Ms Abbott away from voters as she was "not trusted" by Mr Corbyn, a close ally and friend of hers, and other colleagues. | The Conservatives said Labour were "hiding" Ms Abbott away from voters as she was "not trusted" by Mr Corbyn, a close ally and friend of hers, and other colleagues. |