The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Diane Abbott for leader could help women everywhere

Just getting Abbott’s name on the ballot paper will show that women in politics can be taken seriously.

By Alice Miles Published 20 May 2010 12:40

I have absolutely no doubt that Diane Abbott's candidacy will be greeted with hilarity in much of the media, and among some on the Labour benches as well. But before MPs turf her back to north London with their mockery ringing in her ears, they should stop and think. The vacuum of female representation on the front benches of all three main political parties, which has become clearer since the election, has been utterly shocking to women.

Women need women to be in high-profile positions in politics because only then do policies that help women advance (I shall write more about this in my column next week). There is a clear correlation between female representation and feminised policymaking. Which isn't just about maternity leave and child benefit, but tax credits and public services and community support -- all the things that vulnerable women and their families rely on to survive.

This is the female agenda and it needs to be articulated. In the week in which Theresa May spent her time at the Police Federation fielding questions about her shoes, and Andy Burnham was widely being described as a candidate "for the ladies" because apparently he has pretty eyes, we must have one woman in this contest who can show that women are serious politically.

I am not a particular fan of Diane Abbott and I hugely respect some of the male candidates. But if I were a Labour MP today, I would be backing Diane Abbott, just to get her name on to that ballot paper.

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Tags: Diane Abbott Labour leadership

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22 comments

Thu, 2010-05-20 16:25 — Srh

As a woman I do not think we should except or indeed indorse Dianne Abbot simply because of her gender. That is a sure fire way to maintain the status quo - having an unelectable candidate just to tick the female box. I find that insulting to my intelligence and many women will feel the same.

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Thu, 2010-05-20 19:30 — Bob AH

As someone who enjoys The Abbott and Portillo show and the common sense voiced by both against the more ridiculous happenings in politics, I shall be sorry if Diane Abbott becomes the new Labour Leader as we'll lose her insights on the programme. I presume that the leader of the Opposition would not be allowed to appear on a regular weekly politics show.

Thu, 2010-05-20 23:14 — Aliqot (not verified)

In an ideal world there would be no private education. In the real world of Hackney in 2001, black boys were not performing well in state schools. The schools in Hackney are said to have improved hugely since then, helped by Diane Abbot.

I think she was against PR.

Otherwise most of her voting record looks pretty good to me.

Fri, 2010-06-04 13:51 — John Elliott (not verified)

I would be happy with a leader of any gender/sexuality etc. but Dianne Abbot doesn't seem to be a natural leader. She has allowed herself to become,as so many politicians have over recent years, a B-list celeb. Sitting comfortably with the likes of Portillo on cosy political chat-shows. She doesn't like to offend people. On "Question Time" when first asked about David Laws, she took the MP's Buddy-Buddy Club line that it was "Very sad" (Admittedly she did point out that he would have made people Jobless. Only later in the debate, when the general public's opinion (via the audience) was clear, did she go on the attack and raise the comparison with people on benefits. Dianne Abbout, very nice person..but that/'s about it.

p.s. why is it that the benefits cheats in goverment ads are always depicted as working class?

Fri, 2010-05-21 17:47 — OWalsh

If Abbott really wants to be part of the Labour left she ought to stop being such an opportunist and organise a deal with McDonnell. By claiming she's expanding the range of candidates, she's just splitting the left vote and in the long run narrowing the candidature.

As for female representation, would it matter if the cabinet was full of women? No because they're all Tories or right-wing Liberals anyway, they still plan on destroying working-class careers with massive cuts, whether women or men. Certainly, under a socialist Labour government, women should be a significant force, as should ethnic minorities, but if they don't represent the majority of women - working class women - it matters nothing what sex our politicians are.

Fri, 2010-05-21 19:04 — kenny jenkins

Members of the Labour Party can vote for Diane Abbott or not. That's about what can be said on the subject. Everything else is just blether. Non-members can say or think what they like but I can't think of a reason to be interested. I'll be voting for her because I believe consistency is completely incompatible with integrity. If somebody is able to keep their position at all times, I doubt if their position is worth keeping. Life isn't simple. I get the impression that Diane understands that, and 20 years on the back benches is good enough for me. If she wanted high office for her own advancement, she'd have done something about it before now.

Sat, 2010-05-22 03:13 — Philomena (not verified)

If you want to know why peolple do not vote for womwn /ethnic women...look at Dianne Abbott...she is useless..she could not hold a reasoned argumrnt with my dog
She is a complete fraud and had fiddled us all don't forget that.
And i am a memeber of the Labour Party longer than she has been around ..so sitting your ass on a back bench should not be a mark of acomplishment.

Sat, 2010-05-22 17:39 — CrISpY DuCk

Wonder if this opportunist had this in mind when she was sticking her boot into any possibility of a Lib/Lab deal.It's alright for her to try and hold the high moral ground over any such deal when it will be her constituents and not her that will be forced to bear the brunt of 6 billion pounds worth of ConDem cuts.No chance thank goodness.

Thu, 2010-05-20 13:07 — Michael Green (not verified)

As someone pointed out to me the only other woman to stand for leader was Beckett. It says something about the derth of talent over the last 16 years that we jump from Beckett to Abbot.

Thu, 2010-05-20 13:21 — davidk1

"...vacuum of female representation on the frontbenches..." - therefore, let's have Dianne Abbott as a leadership contender??!!

I really dont get this.

Thu, 2010-05-20 13:29 — Silent Hunter

So the woman who railed against 'private education', who condemned parents who sent their kids to fee paying schools and who then went on to send her own kids to a 'private, fee paying school' is to stand for leadership of the corrupt Labour Party . . . how fitting!

Thu, 2010-05-20 13:51 — Balwal (not verified)

Why does she always look at the ceiling, when she disagrees with someone on This Week.

Thu, 2010-05-20 14:05 — scawenb (not verified)

She should easiy get on the ballot even from MPs who just want a proper contest. It is not impossible for her to win as the others split the white, male, ex-minister, TBGB vote.

Thu, 2010-05-20 14:23 — swatantra nandanwar

Dianne could put some life into this humdrum contest, in the same way that Sarah Palin did for McCain, with greater media attention. It'll be the culmiation of 20 years on the back benches being ignored.

Thu, 2010-05-20 14:33 — DeeN (not verified)

So, other than privately educating her son, what else makes her an unsuitable contender? Looking at the ceiling when arguing a point, does not count. Might be wrong. Anything is possible in politics these days.

Thu, 2010-05-20 14:36 — A Francis

I wish her Good Luck, she is always a breath of fresh air, when she is with Andrew Neil and Michael Portillo.

Tue, 2010-05-25 19:35 — Confused! (not verified)

Is this the same woman who said that the Tories had the right to form a government because they got the most votes and they were first past the post.
They may have got they most votes as a single party but not only were they not first past the post but they didn't get past the post at all - hence the coalition!
Perhaps you she should attend a beginners course on our current voting system before attempting to be the leader of any political party.

Thu, 2010-05-20 14:41 — ashleyhk (not verified)

Just getting Abbott's name on the ballot paper will show that women can be taken seriously in politics.
What a ridiculous comment/headline.

I think Margaret Thatcher was, and still is, taken seriously. Maybe she doesn't count as a woman because she is a Conservative.

Thu, 2010-05-20 14:47 — JC (not verified)

Why is she running against John McDonnell?

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Thu, 2010-05-20 16:10 — Y Beebeejaun (not verified)

I agree that women need to be more fully represented in all areas of public life and some policies are of more direct relevance. But surely the impacts of all policy areas on different groups should be considered rather than pointing to a stereotypical list of women oriented policies. All the policies you mention benefit all groups, perhaps in different ways. But you reinforce the idea that women are only vulnerable beneficiaries in society with the list you have.

I also agree that the idea that 'just getting' Abbott's name on the list means women would be taken seriously is a deeply flawed and superficial take of women's contribution to politics.