VETERAN Labour MP Diane Abbott has been attacked for arguing that claims Russia poses a threat to the UK are a “Nato fiction”.<\/p>\n
In a now-deleted social media post, the senior backbencher hit out at the UK Government<\/a>‘s plans to hike defence spending<\/a> as ministers talk up the prospect of war.<\/p>\n 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.”<\/p>\n Home Office minister Anna Turley criticised the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP’s comments, and said the Government stands “wholeheartedly behind Ukraine<\/a>“.<\/p>\n Speaking on Times Radio on Thursday, Turley said: “I completely disagree with Diane Abbott, I’m afraid. I think she’s wrong on this.<\/p>\n (Image: Lucy North)<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “So, I’m afraid I fundamentally disagree with Diane Abbott on that. We stand wholeheartedly behind Ukraine in this country.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Disbelief as BBC host asks John Swinney ‘the most crass question ever’<\/a><\/p>\n “When you go there, you see the horror of what war is really like, what aggression from a dictator really amounts to.<\/p>\n “I’m passionate about our support, and it’s cross-party. The Labour Party<\/a>, to be fair, do not agree with that position.”<\/p>\n