Shropshire Star

Home secretary hopeful Diane Abbott says she no longer opposes security services

Ms Abbott said her work in diverse communities would help her in the role.

Published
Last updated

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott has said she no longer opposes the security services as she insisted her time as a graduate civil servant would prepare her for becoming home secretary.

Ms Abbott also tried to distance herself from claims she supported the IRA in the 1980s, saying: “I don’t have the same hairstyle, I don’t have the same views.”

It came as Labour pledged to recruit 1,000 more staff at security and intelligence agencies MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to step up efforts to prevent terrorism.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott arrives at BBC Broadcasting House ahead of The Andrew Marr Show ( Lauren Hurley/PA )
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott arrives at BBC Broadcasting House ahead of The Andrew Marr Show (Lauren Hurley/PA)

Ms Abbott was challenged on her views after it emerged she had signed a parliamentary motion calling for an end to “conspiratorial groups” in 1989. She told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “At that time, I and a lot of people felt MI5 needed reforming. It has since been reformed and of course I would not call for its abolition now.”

Pressed on the issue, she said: “That MI5 has gone. It’s been reformed, it’s a different MI5 and that’s why so many of us are able to support it now.” She defended voting against “counter-productive” counter terror legislation, which was also opposed by many senior Conservatives.

Asked about her views on the IRA in the 1980s, she said: “It was 34 years ago, I had a rather splendid afro at the time. I don’t have the same hairstyle, I don’t have the same views. It was 34 years on. The hairstyle is gone, some of the views are gone.”

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott on The Andrew Marr Show (BBC)
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott on The Andrew Marr Show (BBC)

Ms Abbott insisted that she had worked as a graduate trainee in the Home Office so she was qualified to take on the role, which would make her the first black person to hold one of the most senior ministerial positions.

She said: “First of all, I think there’s something to be said for a home secretary who has actually worked in the Home Office. I worked in the Home Office for nearly three years as a graduate trainee and I know how it works from the inside.”

Ms Abbott, who has represented Hackney North for 30 years, said her experience working in diverse communities would help her in the role.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd rejected Diane Abbott's comments (Lauren Hurley/PA)
Home Secretary Amber Rudd rejected Diane Abbott’s comments (Lauren Hurley/PA)

Home Secretary Amber Rudd shot back at Ms Abbott’s comments, telling The Andrew Marr Show: “What I would say to Diane Abbott is I have changed my hairstyle a few times in 34 years as well, but I have not changed my view about how we keep the British public safe.”

Labour’s plans to beef up numbers of security and intelligence staff would not require additional funding, because the Government has already put money aside to pay for it.

The party has also pledged to hire 10,000 more police officers, 3,000 more firefighters, 3,000 more prison officers and 500 more border guards in its manifesto.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.