Diane’s dumb maths
£30-a-year policy gaffe
LABOUR’S Diane Abbott appeared to suffer an embarrassing “brain freeze” over her plans to hire more police.
The Shadow Home Secretary got all her sums wrong in a toe-curling radio interview.
BLUNDERING Diane Abbott seemed to announce plans to pay new police officers just £30 a year.
The Shadow Home Secretary promised to put 10,000 extra bobbies on the beat if Labour wins power on June 8.
But Labour MP Abbott struggled to do the sums live on air.
Her first attempt would have left officers earning £30 a year and her second £8,000.
She told LBC host Nick Ferrari: “Well if we recruit the 10,000 policemen and women over a fouryear period, we believe it will be about £300,000.”
Ferrari replied: “£300,000 for 10,000 police officers, how much are you paying them?”
She blustered: “No, I mean, sorry, they will cost, it will cost about, £80million.” But Ferrari pointed out: “If you divide £80m by 10,000, you get £8,000.”
Asked if the plans have been thought through, Abbott replied: “Of course, we will be paying them the average wage.” Police salaries start from £20,000.
In Southampton Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was asked if he was embarrassed by her mistake. He replied: “Not at all, we’ve corrected the figure.”
Home Secretary Amber Rudd added: “Diane Abbott has laid bare the chaos that Britain would face if Jeremy Corbyn is voted into Downing Street.”