Diane Abbott loses front-bench role over ‘health condition’

DIANE ABBOTT was removed as shadow home secretary on the eve of the election because of a “long-term health condition”.

Jeremy Corbyn replaced her with an MP who previously called for his resignation. The Labour leader announced yesterday that Lyn Brown, the shadow home office minister, would be taking over the brief, but friends of Ms Abbott told the BBC she had been moved from her position without being consulted. On Twitter she said she was “still standing” and “will rejoin the fray soon”.

Mr Corbyn was accused of hiding Ms Abbott from voters, following embarrassing broadcast appearances. On Monday night she struggled to recall an anti-terror report and last month she forgot figures for Labour’s police funding plans.

Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, told Talkradio: “Diane is clearly not well and I understand that it is a condition which has been diagnosed and is long-term.”

Mr Corbyn’s new shadow home secretary hit the headlines in 2011 following reports she had shouted “move out of my f---ing way” after bumping into blind Talksport political editor Sean Dilley and his guide dog in Parliament.