Diane Abbott returns to backbenches
Outspoken Labour MP Diane Abbott has challenged the party’s leadership over its policies on immigration, nuclear weapons and the economy as Ed Miliband sacked her as a member of his frontbench team.
Left-winger Ms Abbott was removed as Shadow Public Health Minister yesterday after a reshuffle which was widely seen as boosting the presence of women in the Labour top team and reducing the influence of the Blairite centre-right.
Confirming that she had been fired, Ms Abbott said she was “sorry” no longer to be working with Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham, but added that she was planning to “enjoy being a free agent on the backbenches”.