Oops! She's done it again!

They must be like headless chickens, she is standing on Thursday , can't demote her , can't get shot of her, can't afford for her not to stand because they will be a seat down. Suppose all they can do is keep her hidden for a day, yet that photograph of her at the tube station shows she is still physically active mmmmmm.

I have heard of the abuse she gets Rigsby, I believe it has been more abusive since she became Corbyns strongest supporter.

I was mailed a photograph couple days ago, someone who was present the day Corbyn was doing the Brexit bit, strange photograph, Corbyn and Thornbury rather close together and Keir looking daggers at them,

I'm another one who thinks that Abbott could be ill. She's always irritated me, but she's always been on top of her brief until recently.

She's not stupid. Whatever else I think about her, she's a West Londoner with Jamaican immigrant parents, who was obviously intelligent and hard-working enough to get to Cambridge to read law, which is no mean feat. I have no doubt that she's encountered racism and misogynism along the way.

I watched her this evening struggling to find words and I agree she's not a well lady. She just had a look of being overwhelmed. Someone close to her should take responsibility for duty of care towards her. Sad to watch.

Abbott has a massive majority, so will almost certainly hang on to her seat, but Corbyn has just announced that he won't commit to making her Home Secretary if Labour wins - in other words, he almost certainly won't.

I find many of the journalists unnecessarily bullying to many of the prospective MPs. It seems to be more about the journalists career than getting information and illuminating the subject of the day. I can imagine people having issues when it is piled on. I do not see being able to stand up to bullying as the highest priority on my list when I decide if they can do the job.

On the other hand I wonder if, first the Conservatives swiftly followed by New Labour have encouraged this type of interview by managing the substance of the reply so carefully. I also believe that the very short interviews we have today do not help. We have 24 hour news; surely we could have some more in depth interviews in those long hours or is it the parties that refuse to do these?

Did noone else notice the mention of diabetes?
If she has just been diagnosed, that could be the reason for slurred speech and forgetfulness.

Yes she will hold her seat which is why they can't do a thing untill after Thursday .

MB the reason I mentioned CN was because I thought it was noteworthy that she had made the point as a journalist/interviewer herself. DD so JC has said that has he? Of course we can only speculate as to what is going on behind the scenes in all the parties. I bet TM has already made up her mind re Boris and Phil at least and thrown away the key.

If it were diabetes, I'm sure that would be made public as no one would dare be negative about it given TM is in the same situation. Oh well, I just hope if she's Ill in whatever way, she gets better soon and that she doesn't do any more interviews now.

She's been like this for a few weeks. Diabetes would have been diagnosed by now. I agree, she could have made an announcement. T2 diabetes wouldn't make her like that. T1 could, but she would have been started on insulin, which would have started to control hypos.

Didn't she miss the Brexit vote because of a migraine? Perhaps thatvwas a TIA or stroke and she has had another? Or perhaps indeed something more serious like early onset dementia is possible. Born in 1953 she is older than I thought.

Yes MB she did. Gosh I didn't realise she was born in 1953 - that fact does widen the scope of possible health problems.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VtW0uDJbUg

This doesn't seem like the same woman.

I hadn't realised how pretty she was

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g7mgTQL7oU

I don't imagine many of us seem like the woman we were 19 years ago.

...or this one with Anne Widdecombe

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dVD5Tm1VHg

No, I don't suppose we do, but she was articulate and intelligent. My appearance has changed over the years, but I don't think my brain has slowed down.

Whatever happened to Gavin Grant?

I watched her when she did that challenge to learn to play the piano from scratch and then play Chopin's Prelude No. 4 in E minor. It was a televised performance for Play it Again, in St Martin's in the Fields. She was clearly nervous, who wouldn't be? I smiled at her willing her to succeed. She started off nervously and stopped momentarily, but completed the piece to great applause. She was radiant that night.

19 durhamjen, was that another clip?
I thought she looked and sounded a different person in 1987 which was 30 years ago!! No soft breathy patronising voice then, but an articulate and passionate aspiring politician

Corbyn has announced Abbott is unwell and will be standing down from the election campaign

Oops, daphne. I meant the first clip, which was in 2008, so 9 years not 19 years. Better not tell my grandson!

Poor soul i hope it isnt too serious

That explains a lot. I'd always thought that her recent behaviour was out of character. She's been a fine intelligent politician for many years and I was sorry to see her in such difficulties recently.

I'm glad they've made a decision at last.