VETERAN Labour MP Diane Abbott has been attacked for arguing that claims Russia poses a threat to the UK are a “Nato fiction”.

In a now-deleted social media post, the senior backbencher hit out at the UK Government‘s plans to hike defence spending as ministers talk up the prospect of war.

In the Twitter/X post, the former shadow home secretary said: “The imminent threat from Russia is a Nato fiction to justify their complete capitulation to Trump’s demands for more military spending. The increase should not go ahead.”

Home Office minister Anna Turley criticised the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP’s comments, and said the Government stands “wholeheartedly behind Ukraine“.

Speaking on Times Radio on Thursday, Turley said: “I completely disagree with Diane Abbott, I’m afraid. I think she’s wrong on this.

(Image: Lucy North)

“We’ve been very clear in our commitment to Ukraine. The Prime Minister has met President Zelenskyy and avowed our support for their nation in a steadfast way, as we have been as a Labour Government and cross-party on this issue as well.

“So, I’m afraid I fundamentally disagree with Diane Abbott on that. We stand wholeheartedly behind Ukraine in this country.”

Elsewhere, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge hit out at the Labour veteran in an interview with LBC, saying: “I don’t think Diane Abbott has been to Ukraine recently.

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“When you go there, you see the horror of what war is really like, what aggression from a dictator really amounts to.

“I’m passionate about our support, and it’s cross-party. The Labour Party, to be fair, do not agree with that position.”

Abbott was readmitted to the Labour Party in July, after a year-long suspension from the party for repeating comments about racism for which she had previously apologised.

(Image: Henry Nicholls/PA Wire)

She had previously been suspended and investigated by the party over a letter to The Observer newspaper in 2023 in which she suggested that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism.

The long-serving MP was subsequently readmitted to the party in time to contest her seat at the 2024 General Election.

Asked if she thought Abbott should have the Labour whip suspended again over her latest comments, minister Turley told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that would be a decision for the Government’s chief whip, Anneliese Midgley.

The minister added: “My opinion is she’s wrong. She’s in the wrong place on this. I disagree fundamentally, firmly, with her, and I’m happy to say so publicly, and the chief whip is the person that will make that decision, and I’ll wait for them to make their decision on that.”