‘Labour lacks economic credibility’, say Lib Dems after Diane Abbott radio gaffe

Radio gaffe: Diane Abbott’s fumble has been seized upon by opponents.

The Liberal Democrats have called into question Labour’s economic competence after Diane Abbott’s “car crash” interview on Nick Ferrari’s LBC radio show yesterday.

The shadow home secretary, who has held the Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat since 1987, got in a muddle over the numbers behind Labour’s pledge to recruit another 10,000 police officers.

After slipping up repeatedly on the cost of the policy, Abbott eventually gave the correct figure of £298m a year by the end of the next parliament. She said: “In year one we are getting ready to recruit, but in year two the cost will be £64.3m. In year three, the cost will be £139.1m. Year four, the cost will be £217m and year five, the cost will be £298m and that can be amply covered by reversing the cuts in capital gains tax.”

Abbott later admitted she had “mis-spoken” on LBC, but suggested the media was using her mistake to duck the real issue of cuts to police budgets.

Liberal Democrat hopeful Dave Raval, standing in Hackney South and Shoreditch in June’s election, said: “This government is undermining the ability of the police to do their job and keep communities safe.

“This will only get worse as a result of Theresa May’s hard Brexit agenda, being backed by Corbyn’s Labour, that is set to blow a £100 billion hole in public finances.

“Diane Abbott’s car crash interview on policing yesterday shows that Labour lacks the economic credibility to talk about the very serious issue of reducing crime.”

Raval praised his party’s “successful track record” on crime, which he said dropped 10 per cent between 2010 and 2015, when the Liberal Democrats were in power with the Conservatives.

He added: “We also have the economic credibility to be able to fund police forces and crime prevention properly, unlike Diane Abbott and Labour, who are again promising spending from a pot they have already spent ten times over.”

At least #DianeAbbott is trying to raise violent crime issues. Media should focus on @theresa_may avoiding ANY questions, not some gaffe.

— Al Binnie-Lubbock (@alastairis) May 2, 2017

But Abbott found an unlikely ally in Alastair Binnie-Lubbock, Hackney Green Party’s candidate for her constituency, who backed her on Twitter: “At least Diane Abbott is trying to raise violent crime issues. Media should focus on Theresa May avoiding any questions, not some gaffe.”

In another tweet, Binnie-Lubbock called some of Theresa May’s policies during her time as home secretary “authoritarian and callous”, and said he was doubtful Abbott would be the same if she ended up in the job.

The Conservatives were quick to pounce on Abbott’s LBC performance, with prime minister Theresa May bringing it up while campaigning in Bristol. She told reporters: “I think [Abbott] was suggesting that you could employ a police officer for £8,000 a head. I think she needs to go and have another look at her figures.

“Actually, this is very serious. Diane Abbott wants to be home secretary in our country. I think that shows people yet again the very clear choice between the strong and stable leadership of the Conservative party in government and the coalition of chaos there would be under Jeremy Corbyn.”

Labour’s leader leapt to the defence of his cabinet colleague, who he promoted to shadow home secretary in October, telling the media he was “not embarrassed in the slightest” about the interview.

The public heads to the polls on 8 June after Theresa May called a snap election last month.  Those wanting to vote must register by 22 May if they have not done so already.

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