Diane Abbott has become embroiled in yet another controversy after labelling the threat from Russia a 'NATO fiction' and saying a planned increase to defence spending 'should not go ahead'.

The veteran Labour MP wrote on social media that 'the imminent threat from Russia is a NATO fiction to justify their complete capitulation to Trump's demands for more military spending' – despite Moscow's sabre-rattling reaching new heights this week.

She added that 'the increase should not go ahead' in reference to Government aims to boost defence spending.

Ms Abbott's remarks come as Putin issued his clearest hint yet that Russia would attack Britain for supplying arms to Ukraine.

When asked on Wednesday whether he would strike British military facilities, the Russian leader said: 'That's a secret. A military secret.'

And her comments follow the German government confirming on Tuesday that a drone attack on Leipzig airport had emanated from Russia.

Ms Abbott has now been roundly criticised for her post.

Shadow defence minister and former soldier Ben Obese-Jecty accused Ms Abbott of 'wilfully playing the role of Putin's useful idiot' and being 'dangerously out of touch'.

He added: 'Over four years into the war in Ukraine, and with escalating sub-threshold activity, we are agreed that increasing defence spending is a matter of national security.

'It beggars belief that a senior Labour politician could be so naïve.'

And former shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: 'We live in an uncertain and hostile world and Diane Abbott's views are far removed from the real world where Russia is a threat to the UK and our allies.'

Ms Abbott's remarks come just weeks after she was readmitted to the Labour Party following a year-long suspension for misconduct.

The longstanding Hackney North and Stoke Newington Labour MP was kicked out the party in July last year for doubling down on comments about Jewish people for which she had previously been suspended from the party – but then apologised.

Ms Abbott's latest intervention follows her over the past few months repeatedly questioning the West's support of Ukraine.

She described warnings of a future Russian invasion of Western countries in July as 'outlandish', and the month before criticised 'the Nato campaign against Russia'.

Writing in left-wing paper the Morning Star, she said: 'The reason there is such a hue and cry about military spending now is not because Russian forces are in Ukraine; that happened well over four years ago.

'No, the reason for the outlandish claims about an imminent Russian invasion is simply because Trump demanded more military spending from Nato members.'

She added: 'None of this is making us any safer. On the contrary. Russia is a major military power, but Nato is engaged in a war which is now striking deep into Russian territory, provoking widespread calls for retaliation against Nato countries.'

This comes as Andy Burnham this week faced more calls to reveal when Labour would set out a timetable for reaching three per cent spend on defence.

A No10 spokesperson said on Wednesday: 'As the PM said yesterday, the UK stands in full solidarity with Germany following Russia's egregious and reckless attack in Leipzig.

'Our commitment to supporting Ukraine from Russia's illegal invasion is ironclad.'