Labour MP Diane Abbott was wrong to say the threat from Russia has been made up by Nato, a minister has said.

Anna Turley criticised the veteran Labour MP’s comments, made on social media on Wednesday, and said the Government stands “wholeheartedly behind Ukraine”.

Ms Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, had criticised plans to hike defence spending, writing on social media site X: “The imminent threat from Russia is a Nato fiction to justify their complete capitulation to Trump’s demands for more military spending. The increase should not go ahead.”

The comments came just a day after Germany pinned the blame on Russia for a drone attack at Leipzig airport in August.

Russian officials have engaged in sabre-rattling against Western nations in recent weeks, threatening to strike against the military targets in UK and other countries for providing support to Ukraine.

Home Office minister Anna Turley was asked about the Labour MP’s comments on Times Radio on Thursday morning.

She told the broadcaster: “I completely disagree with Diane Abbott, I’m afraid. I think she’s wrong on this.

“We’ve been very clear in our commitment to Ukraine. The Prime Minister has met President Zelensky and avowed our support for their nation in a steadfast way, as we have been as a Labour Government and cross-party on this issue as well.

“So, I’m afraid I fundamentally disagree with Diane Abbott on that. We stand wholeheartedly behind Ukraine in this country.”

Ms Abbott was readmitted to the Labour Party in July, after a year-long suspension from the party for repeating comments about racism for which she had previously apologised.

She had previously been suspended and investigated by the party over a letter to The Observer newspaper in 2023 in which she suggested that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism.

The long-serving MP was subsequently readmitted to the party in time to contest her seat at the 2024 general election.

Asked if she thought Ms Abbott should have the Labour whip suspended again over her latest comments, minister Ms Turley told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that would be a decision for the Government’s chief whip, Anneliese Midgley.

The minister added: “My opinion is she’s wrong. She’s in the wrong place on this. I disagree fundamentally, firmly, with her, and I’m happy to say so publicly, and the chief whip is the person that will make that decision, and I’ll wait for them to make their decision on that.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she “fundamentally” disagrees with Ms Abbott.

“Being against Nato, I’m afraid, is not one of the things the Conservatives stand for.

“We believe in strong defence. Nato is the bedrock of European security – without it, we would be overrun by so many foreign aggressors.

“So I fundamentally disagree with Diane Abbott.”