‘Labour lacks economic credibility’, say Lib Dems after Diane Abbott radio gaffe
Radio gaffe: Diane Abbott’s fumble has been seized upon by opponents.
The Liberal Democrats have called into question Labour’s economic competence after Diane Abbott’s “car crash” interview on Nick Ferrari’s LBC radio show yesterday.
The shadow home secretary, who has held the Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat since 1987, got in a muddle over the numbers behind Labour’s pledge to recruit another 10,000 police officers.
After slipping up repeatedly on the cost of the policy, Abbott eventually gave the correct figure of £298m a year by the end of the next parliament. She said: “In year one we are getting ready to recruit, but in year two the cost will be £64.3m. In year three, the cost will be £139.1m. Year four, the cost will be £217m and year five, the cost will be £298m and that can be amply covered by reversing the cuts in capital gains tax.”
Abbott later admitted she had “mis-spoken” on LBC, but suggested the media was using her mistake to duck the real issue of cuts to police budgets.
Liberal Democrat hopeful Dave Raval, standing in Hackney South and Shoreditch in June’s election, said: “This government is undermining the ability of the police to do their job and keep communities safe.
“This will only get worse as a result of Theresa May’s hard Brexit agenda, being backed by Corbyn’s Labour, that is set to blow a £100 billion hole in public finances.
“Diane Abbott’s car crash interview on policing yesterday shows that Labour lacks the economic credibility to talk about the very serious issue of reducing crime.”
Raval praised his party’s “successful track record” on crime, which he said dropped 10 per cent between 2010 and 2015, when the Liberal Democrats were in power with the Conservatives.
He added: “We also have the economic credibility to be able to fund police forces and crime prevention properly, unlike Diane Abbott and Labour, who are again promising spending from a pot they have already spent ten times over.”
At least #DianeAbbott is trying to raise violent crime issues. Media should focus on @theresa_may avoiding ANY questions, not some gaffe.
— Al Binnie-Lubbock (@alastairis) May 2, 2017
But Abbott found an unlikely ally in Alastair Binnie-Lubbock, Hackney Green Party’s candidate for her constituency, who backed her on Twitter: “At least Diane Abbott is trying to raise violent crime issues. Media should focus on Theresa May avoiding any questions, not some gaffe.”
In another tweet, Binnie-Lubbock called some of Theresa May’s policies during her time as home secretary “authoritarian and callous”, and said he was doubtful Abbott would be the same if she ended up in the job.
The Conservatives were quick to pounce on Abbott’s LBC performance, with prime minister Theresa May bringing it up while campaigning in Bristol. She told reporters: “I think [Abbott] was suggesting that you could employ a police officer for £8,000 a head. I think she needs to go and have another look at her figures.
“Actually, this is very serious. Diane Abbott wants to be home secretary in our country. I think that shows people yet again the very clear choice between the strong and stable leadership of the Conservative party in government and the coalition of chaos there would be under Jeremy Corbyn.”
Labour’s leader leapt to the defence of his cabinet colleague, who he promoted to shadow home secretary in October, telling the media he was “not embarrassed in the slightest” about the interview.
The public heads to the polls on 8 June after Theresa May called a snap election last month. Those wanting to vote must register by 22 May if they have not done so already.
For more information on how to register, please visit the government’s website here
Every year the Liberal Democrats on Hackney Council submit an alternative budget. This isn’t very extensive. It usually covers a small number of items to demonstrate how Lib Dems would address spending if they were in control of the council. The budget is submitted first to officers to make sure the spending amounts are correct and that the figures add up. So it’s not surprising that they are annoyed at Diane not having the figures correct for this extensive spending commitment. The major point is that after Brexit there will be less money, considerably less (tax receipts are already down), so all of these policing proposals from the (suddenly “law and order”) Labour and Greens are little more than smoke in the wind.
Abbott yet again not informed or prepared for fairly obvious questions. Tories have no chance in Hackney so the real opposition are Lib Dems who as usual do their research and make a positive difference. Abbott in need of a wake up call as she takes her “safe seat” for granted.
I would love to see the details of the seven interveiws that Abbott gave prior to the LBC interveiw – you know the ones where she reckons she got the numbers right. Even if the gaffe can be forgiven, deliberate butt covering porkies should not be.
This execrable woman has occupied her seat for far too long and should give way to a serious, intelligent candidate. She of course knows that she has an ultra-safe seat, no matter how many times she stuffs up. The sad reality is that the people of Hackney would happily elect a tadpole as long as it wore a red rosette.
Having said this, how the party leadership came to the decision that she is suitable to be the official pretender to the office of Home Secretary is one of the great mysteries of our time.
And people vote for this lady ?
“At least Diane Abbott is trying to raise violent crime issues” …But mostly when there is less severe crime such as criminal elements within her own Hackney council deliberately destroying people’s homes or running smear campaigns against anyone that gets in their way. Ms Abbott does nothing, which is about the only thing she seems good at doing. I don’t think there’s many in Hackney who believe that Diane represents anyone except herself. It’s time for change!
And more of the same:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2017/may/05/diane-abbott-underestimates-labour-local-election-losses-video
It’s embarrassing – and definitely time for change.
I will be voting Conservative on June 8.
That’s a shame. There are other choices.
I find Abbott unlikeable, but don’t believe that that is ample reason not to vote Labour.
I don’t think anyone in her party is likeable & that is ample reason not to vote Labour!
I don’t like their policies, the way they aired their dirty laundry in public like a soap opera last year or the Anti-Semitism that is associated with them. I would feel embarrassed to call Corbyn the Prime minister.