I was a postman one Christmas and I developed a morbid fear of dogs.

The secretary of the all-party Finland group of MPs Conservative Ian Bruce responded by accusing her of using racial stereotypes adding: "All Scandinavian countries have people from African and Caribbean countries living there. Abbott was later appointed Shadow Minister for Public Health by Ed Miliband taking shadow responsibility for a range of issues including children's health maternity services sexual health tobacco nursing obesity and alcohol abuse. On the issue of abortion Abbott has become a vocal ‘pro-choice’ supporter opposing moves towards changing abortion counselling policy and reducing the abortion time limit.

Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 when Diane Abbott became the first black woman to be elected to the House of Commons.