Keir Starmer ‘doesn’t have a feel for politics’ or the Labour Party, Diane Abbott says

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer has no feel for politics or the Labour Party, Diane Abbott has said. open image in gallery Keir Starmer was director of public prosecutions before standing to be a Labour MP in 2015 And, speaking to the BBC, Ms Abbott said: “One of the things people forget or never knew about Keir Starmer is that he was only a member of the Labour Party for a very short time before he became leader. open image in gallery Labour MP Diane Abbott was among those pressing the prime minister on Waspi women Asked about Sir Keir’s first six months in power, Ms Abbott said: “We’re going to have to see how things work out. His proportion of the vote is relatively small, and I think it would be a mistake to think ‘Ooh, we won by a landslide, therefore we can get away with anything.’ That’s not going to work.” Ms Abbott has been a thorn in Sir Keir’s side since the general election, frequently criticising the prime minister in her prominent role as mother of the house, the oldest MP in the Commons.