Diane Abbott confirms she will stand down from Shadow Cabinet
2 min read
Diane Abbott has confirmed she will stand down from the shadow Cabinet whoever wins the Labour leadership contest.
The Shadow Home Secretary said the person who replaces Jeremy Corbyn has to be able to create their own top team and move the party forward.
Her comments came after Mr Corbyn indicated he would be willing to serve in another senior position once he steps down as leader.
And Rebecca Long-Bailey, one of the candidates in the contest, has said she would be willing to offer him a position if she wins.
But asked about Mr Corbyn on Sky News’ Ridge on Sunday, Ms Abbott sought to clarify her own position, saying: "I will be stepping down because I think the new leader has to be able to construct their own shadow cabinet.”
She added: “I was a backbencher for a few years and there’s an awful lot to do on the backbenches.
“One of the things that I will want to do is make sure we don’t make a swerve to the right on migration policy.
“I think that’s a dead-end for the Labour Party.
“We have to stand by our principles and stand by our values and make sure we have an immigration policy which is fair and workable.”
The veteran MP said whatever the party decides her view will be "I support free movement”, as she attacked the Government’s new post-Brexit immigration plans.
She said the “notion of control” over borders should not be the starting point of the new points-based system, saying: “We should be starting from what are the needs of the economy."
And she added: ”You are not going to suddenly replace the EU migrants unable to come here.
"This is a very misconceived policy - it's all about giving the impression of being hawkish on migration."
Ms Abbott said: “I don't think the Home Office is full of individual racists, but I do think they run a system which is detrimental to black and brown migrants."
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