George Galloway defends Diane Abbott from ‘sickening’ attacks after Article 50 vote

Radio host and former Labour MP Galloway fumed over the criticism the shadow home secretary has received since she missed the important vote with mocking suggestions that she had the “Brexit-flu”.

Ms Abbott has faced calls to resign after she failed to vote last week as Parliament voted on an Article 50 bill.

The politician claimed to have a migraine which forced her to miss the vote, despite being in the House of Commons hours before.

However, speaking on talkRADIO, Galloway backed the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

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George Galloway has backed Diane Abbott despite her missing the significant Article 50 vote

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He said: “I’ve known her for over 30 years, and if she says that she was ill I must believe her, even if some of those don’t.

“But the treatment she gets from her own colleagues, women and others who describe themselves as ‘women-friendly,’ the type of attacks she gets from people forever telling us how right-on they are frankly sickens me.

“Being too poorly to attend the vote has led to a number of feminists or super anti-racists to launch, frankly, unpleasant attacks on her.”

A number of politicians and political commentators have blasted the Labour pro-EU MP for missing the historic vote last week.

The European Union Notification of Withdrawal Bill was passed on Wednesday by an overwhelming majority as MPs voted to give Theresa May the power to trigger Article 50.

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Diane Abbott has faced calls to resign despite having a close relationship with leader Jeremy Corbyn

The type of attacks she gets frankly sickens me

George Galloway

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Galloway had invited the Labour politician to speak on the radio show with him but she was too ill still to appear.

“Now she texted [me] this evening that unfortunately no, she couldn’t appear on the show tonight. This is a pity, because she wouldn’t have found a friendlier billet to state her point of view," he said.

“Maybe she has still got the Brexit-flu.”

Labour MPs are now set to attempt to amend the Article 50 bill before Parliament votes on it again.

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