Abbott defends Shami Chakrabarti peerage

Diane Abbott has defended the peerage for lawyer and Labour member Shami Chakrabarti after criticism from some MPs and Jewish community leaders.

The shadow health secretary said Ms Chakrabarti - who chaired an inquiry into anti-Semitism in the party for Jeremy Corbyn - had been appointed purely on merit and claims of cronyism were unfair.

She also rejected claims that Labour should boycott the honours system until it was reformed, saying it would leave the party increasingly "outnumbered" in the House of Lords.