Corbyn and Abbott revelled in IRA terrorism, Tory MP claims

Mr Hoare, speaking as MPs debated a motion in the Commons to set police budgets next year, said there was a "widening gulf in the party opposite when it comes to this issue".

"I'm absolutely convinced that the vast majority of members opposite, like all of us on this side of the House, support our police and policing, and we follow up with our speeches and our words by our actions in that sort of support.

"I'm not sure I will take lessons necessarily from some on the front bench of the party opposite, not I have to say the shadow minister (Louise Haigh) who has spoken...with great force and passion.

"But where we have a shadow chancellor who believes that MI5 should be disbanded and the police disarmed, where we have a shadow home secretary who has just left her place who has over the years with her party leader supported and revelled in IRA terrorism, where we have had the police berated for policing, quite properly, industrial action.

"And when I asked the question which again got no answer about what is different the party opposite would do with regards to this grant, we were reminded of a manifesto pledge of 10,000 extra police but even with all the months that have elapsed since that general election, still no idea as to how they would be funded and in actual fact how much it would actually cost."

Later, Labour's Neil Coyle (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) intervened, and said: "Can I suggest that whatever he believes the shadow home secretary has done, I think it is deeply offensive to suggest she has ever revelled in IRA attacks on this country."

Mr Hoare replied: "I would certainly take (Mr Coyle) to the comments that (Ms Abbott) had made which was that every activity moved one step closer to a united Ireland should be celebrated.

"Whether you use the phrase celebrated or revelled I will leave to (Mr Coyle) but I think we know where at that time her sentiment was."

- PA