Abbott misses two events due to illness

Shadowhomesecretarydiane Abbott has pulled out of two major election events due to illness amid criticism over her media appearances.

Ms Abbott was due to take part in a debate on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and a hustings organised by the London Evening Standard, but was replaced by shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry.

Alabourspokeswomansaid Ms Abbott’s absence from the Woman’s Hour debate was because she had fallen ill but the last-minute decision meant Ms Thornberry had to cycle to the studio to fill in.

Her decision to withdraw from the Woman’s Hour debate yesterday morning came after a difficult interview on Monday evening in which she appeared to struggle to answer questions about her home affairs brief.

The late withdrawal came after Ms Abbott was questioned by Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News on Monday about a report by former Metropolitan Police Authority chairman Lord Harris on security in London.

Although she said she had read the document, she appeared unable to recall any of the specific recommendations it contained.

Asked about the report, Ms Abbott said it was time to “revisit” its findings, but when asked which part, she replied: “I just think it’s about preparedness and resilience.”

The awkward interview led to renewed pressure after Ms Abbott was widely mocked 0 Diane Abbott had an awkward interview on Monday by political opponents and on social media over an LBC radio appearance last month in which she was unable to explain the costings for the policing policy she was launching.

Ms Abbott, however, denied reports that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and shadow chancellor John Mcdonnell wanted to keep her off air during the remaining stages of the election, fearing she had become a liability.

“I am here. I have just come from doing another media interview. I’m going on to do another media interview. There is no truth in the idea I’m not in the media,” she told Sky.

But the Tories seized on her absence from the events on Tuesday as evidence she was being kept away from the public.

Cabinet minister Priti Patel said: “Jeremy Corbyn wants to make Diane Abbott home secretary in just two days but is hiding her away from voters.

“The woman who would be in charge of our police and the intelligence services cannot even be trusted by Jeremy Corbyn and John Mcdonnell to go on the airwaves.”