Outspoken Labour MP Diane Abbott yesterday 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 front bench team.
Ms Abbott was removed as shadow public health minister a day 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.
Ms Abbott used an article on The Guardian website to raise concern over Labour’s acceptance of Government cuts, calling on the party to offer “a more far-reaching critique of austerity”.
She suggested Mr Miliband should consider scrapping Trident and resist advisers urging him to adopt a tougher stance on immigration.
Britain’s first black woman MP added: “I have long despaired of the downward spiral of Labour’s rhetoric on immigration.”
