'Did you bottle it?' Diane Abbott swerves questions after missing Brexit vote
DIANE ABBOTT swerved several questions from a journalist about why she failed to attend the key Commons Brexit vote.
Diane Abbott swerves questions about missing Brexit vote
The Jeremy Corbyn ally is facing calls to resign after she failed to vote on Theresa May’s bill which would allow the Government to formally start Britain’s European Union divorce proceedings.
Ms Abbott, a staunch Remainer, claimed she was too sick to attend the vote, where she would’ve been expected to follow Labour’s three-line whip, which called on MPs to back the Government’s plans for Brexit.
ITN journalist Nick Wallace approached Ms Abbott after she was spotted arriving home by car.
In the footage, the reporter can be heard shouting: “Could you give us just two minutes of your time, please?
Did you bottle the Brexit vote Ms Abbott?
“Did you bottle the Brexit vote? One of your MP colleagues is claiming that you bottled the Brexit vote.
“Did you bottle the Brexit vote Ms Abbott?”
But instead of facing the press the shadow home secretary had the vehicle back off of her drive before leaving the scene, avoiding any questions.
Ms Abbott failed to vote after complaining of a migraine and leaving Westminster two hours before the division in the Commons at around 5pm.
John McDonnell DENIES Diane Abbott has 'Brexit flu'
Her position has been met with backlash from MPs who were told to support the Conservatives deliver Brexit.
Labour MP John Mann said Ms Abbott’s excuse was “outrageous” given that at least four “very, very ill” MPs, some of whom recently had life-saving operations, turned up to vote.
He claimed that he suspected Mr Corbyn’s ally wanted to abstain or oppose the EU Bill but lacked the integrity of her colleagues in the shadow cabinet who quit.
“She thought she could get away from it,” he said. “Others have the integrity to resign from the shadow cabinet.
“I disagree with their vote but not with their integrity.
“Jeremy Corbyn and the shadow cabinet decided the party position – she is in that shadow cabinet.”
Mr Mann added: “If she had been rushed to hospital, then, of course, that’s perfectly rational and reasonable.
“But I think she should apologise to the party for her actions and she should resign.”
Forty-seven Labour MPs defied their leader, and on Thursday shadow chancellor John McDonnell said rebel backbench MPs would not be required to resign for the refusal to come into line with Mr Corbyn – but members of the shadow cabinet would.
Mr Corbyn had to deal with three members of his shadow cabinet resigning before the vote, which ended with 498 votes to 114 to allow the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50.