Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott has said a “hostile atmosphere was whipped up” against her ahead of her appearance on BBC Question Time last night, only the second programme with new host Fiona Bruce.

The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said in a statement today that “reports of inappropriate and sexist commentary in the audience warm-up session” backed up her claim.

Several Twitter users who claim to have been in the show’s audience alleged that remarks were made at Abbott’s expense before the programme went live from Derby. The BBC has denied this is the case.