Diane Abbott distances herself from 1980s quote in support of IRA

Diane Abbott has distanced herself from comments she made apparently in support of the IRA in the 1980s, saying: "I don’t have the same hairstyle, I don’t have the same views."

The shadow home secretary was quizzed on her views about Northern Ireland after it was revealed she had said in 1984, at the height of The Troubles, that: "Every defeat of the British state is a victory for all of us. A defeat in Northern Ireland would be a defeat indeed."

She told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: "It was 34 years ago, I had a rather splendid afro at the time. I don’t have the same hairstyle, I don’t have the same views.

"It was 34 years on. The hairstyle is gone, some of the views are gone."

Appearing on the same programme, Home Secretary Amber Rudd responded to Ms Abbott’s comments by saying: "What I would say to Diane Abbott is I have changed my hairstyle a few times in 34 years as well, but I have not changed my view about how we keep the British public safe."

:: Jeremy Corbyn denies supporting or meeting IRA

When asked if Ms Abbott’s hairstyle comments trivialised the IRA, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told ITV’s Peston On Sunday: "Diane’s hairstyle is a matter for Diane."

Pressed on the issue, Mr Corbyn said: "We learnt, all of us, a lot from the whole experience of Northern Ireland.

"Remember what it was like… in the late 70s and early 80s, the military presence all over Northern Ireland, the huge divide between communities, the lack of any communication between communities, the idea that there’d be a military solution when we knew there wouldn’t be.

"I remember arguing with many people in Parliament and when Ian Paisley was thrown out of Parliament for accusing the prime minister of talking to the republicans, which she denied she was and it turned out she probably was. I actually defended him on being thrown out of Parliament."

Mr Corbyn has himself faced questions about his views on the IRA, and on Sunday he insisted credit should be given to all unionists and republicans who helped deliver peace.

He acknowledged meeting former prisoners, although said they told him they were not in the IRA, adding such talks were on the basis of trying to develop a peace process.

Appearing on ITV’s Peston On Sunday, Mr Corbyn said: "I have not spoken to the IRA. I have in the past and still do often meet people from Sinn Fein."

In her interview Ms Abbott also said she no longer opposed the security services, after it emerged she had signed a parliamentary motion calling for an end to "conspiratorial groups" in 1989.

"At that time, I and a lot of people felt MI5 needed reforming," she said.

"It has since been reformed and, of course, I would not call for its abolition now."

She added: "That MI5 has gone. It’s been reformed, it’s a different MI5 and that’s why so many of us are able to support it now."

Labour has pledged to recruit 1,000 more staff at security and intelligence agencies MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to ramp up efforts to fight terrorism.

Ms Abbott also defended voting against "counter-productive" counter-terror legislation, which was also opposed by many senior Conservatives.

She said her work as a graduate trainee in the Home Office meant she was qualified to take on the role, which would make her the first black person to hold one of the most senior ministerial positions.

(c) Sky News 2017: Diane Abbott distances herself from 1980s quote in support of IRA