Yahoo News Diane Abbott on claims she supported IRA: 'It was 34 years ago. I used to have a splendid Afro'
Diane Abbott has tried to distance herself from claims she supported the IRA by suggesting both her hairstyles and views have changed over the years.
The shadow home secretary said she had "moved on" from remarks she made in the 1980s when she declared her support for the IRA and claimed "every defeat of the British state is a victory for all of us".
In an interview with a pro-republican journal at the time she said Ireland is "our struggle" and added: "A defeat in Northern Ireland would be a defeat indeed."
Asked about her views on the IRA in the 1980s, she told the BBC's Andrew Marr show this morning, she said: "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."
Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, shot back at Ms Abbott's comments, telling the same programme: "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."
Asked if Ms Abbott's hairstyle comments trivialised the IRA, Jeremy Corbyn told ITV's Peston On Sunday: "Diane's hairstyle is a matter for Diane."
Ms Abbott was also challenged on her views about the security services today after it emerged she had signed a parliamentary motion calling for an end to "conspiratorial groups" in 1989.
She said: "At that time, I and a lot of people felt MI5 needed reforming. It has since been reformed and of course I would not call for its abolition now."
Pressed on the issue, she insisted: "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."
She also insisted that she had worked as a graduate trainee in the Home Office so 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.
She said: "First of all, I think there's something to be said for a home secretary who has actually worked in the Home Office.
"I worked in the Home Office for nearly three years as a graduate trainee and I know how it works from the inside."
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