Left-wing MP Diane Abbott has promised to fight cuts to the public sector as she officially launched her bid to become leader of the Labour Party.

The backbencher also said Labour had to admit that the Iraq War was a "mistake" before it could move on.
She must get the backing of 33 MPs by 9 June to get on the ballot paper - so far only one is officially backing her, former minister David Lammy

Ms Abbot is the only woman and only ethnic minority MP to stand so far.
She has said all the other five candidates would all make good leaders but the party "cannot be offering a slate of candidates who all look the same".

Responding to suggestions by Tony Blair's former communications chief that Labour would not last five minutes in power under her leadership, she said: "I say to Alastair Campbell that if the Labour Party continues with his policies, the Labour Party will never be in power again."
Ms Abbott, one of the Labour rebels who opposed the Iraq war in 2003, said she was "sad and ashamed" by the former government's controversial decision to go to war.
"We have to admit we have learnt the lessons. Until we admit these things we cannot move on as a party."

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