Labour MP says there is a lack of voices at a senior level making the case for immigration and party's policy is being swayed by the polls
Diane Abbott has said that Labour is failing to do enough to challenge the government's anti-immigration narrative.
The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was speaking to Progress Magazine.
Abbott said Labour's response is, in part, being shaped by a lack of voices at a senior level making the case for immigration.
"Not that many members of the shadow cabinet represent a diverse London constituency and views about race and immigration are different once you step outside London if you think about it. So I think Ed [Miliband] himself means well and is doing his best but as a party we should do [more] because, it's what I said, it's a downward spiral," Abbott was quoted as saying.
Abbott said that Labour policy on immigration is being swayed by opinion polls.
She told Progress Magazine: "I've spoken to Ed Miliband about this quite a bit. I know that, on this issue, Ed's heart is in the right place and he's trying hard to position us correctly ... what weighs with him is the polling which shows what the Tories are doing on immigration is popular and it certainly weighs on other members of the shadow cabinet."
Abbott warned in April that that Labour needed to be careful not to get involved in "dog whistle" politics on immigration.
The Independent on Sunday reported on August 18th that a poll showed the public's stance on immigration has changed radically in the past four years, as Britain has struggled with deepening recession and strained relations with its EU partners.
According to the Independent, the poll found that three-quarters of the public think that it is wrong for the UK to recruit overseas workers given the number of young people struggling to find jobs.
Nearly six out of ten people said they opposed citizens of other EU countries having the right to live and work in Britain, a reversal of opinions in 2009 when the same percentage agreed they should.