Lucy Powell says she understands public’s frustration with Labour in office

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Asked why Labour’s poll ratings had plummeted, Ms Powell told GB News: “We always knew it was going to be difficult, and it’s proven to be the case.” She added: “We’ve begun to start moving it in the right direction, but there are many fundamental challenges facing the country that have meant we’ve had to take some difficult decisions so that we could get the money into the front line of the NHS, and skills and education, and sort out our transport system, and really start putting working people at the front of the queue again. We didn’t think it would be popular, but hopefully people will judge us in four years’ time on whether they feel better off and whether their public services have improved.” Ms Abbott told Times Radio that it is “striking that Keir’s poll ratings are going down the toilet” and are “much worse” than the party as a whole. They don't want to have a war on the elderly, unfortunately it does look like it because some of the most controversial policies they've taken forward have affected the elderly Diane Abbott But Ms Powell said: “We’ve no immediate plans to do that, but we do have a manifesto commitment to look more broadly at our elections regime in this country, from things like votes at 16, which we’re committed to. “But also to make sure that our electoral system has got that integrity and is robust from many of the new issues that face undermining our democracy and our elections.” Asked if the Government was waging a war on the elderly, Ms Abbott told Times Radio: “They don’t want to have a war on the elderly, unfortunately it does look like it because some of the most controversial policies they’ve taken forward have affected the elderly.” The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP said there should have been an attempt to compromise with Waspi women who have campaigned over the Government’s failure to notify them of changes to the state pension age.