The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Diane Abbott enters Labour leadership race

Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP makes surprise announcement that she will be the sixth person to run in the contest.

By Samira Shackle Published 20 May 2010 9:43

Diane Abbott has thrown her hat into the ring, announcing that she will stand for the Labour leadership.

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington told the BBC's Today programme that her bid was "serious", and would offer Labour a choice, given the similarities between the other candidates.

This unexpected addition certainly brings something different to a race which, until now, was populated mainly by white, Oxbridge-educated men in their forties -- Ed and David Miliband, Ed Balls and Andy Burnham all fit the bill, while John McDonnell is 59, and went to Brunel.

Abbott says she is confident that she will gain the necessary backing of 33 Labour MPs by 27 May, expecting support from MPs on the left of the party, and from women MPs.

Abbott -- a 57-year-old Cambridge graduate -- was the UK's first black female MP in 1987, and remained the only one for ten years.

Quite apart from being a black woman entering the fray in a very white, male political setting, she represents a more left-leaning set of ideas than the candidates already in the running, many of whom are still tarred by their lingering association with Blair/Brown.

She is generally to the left of New Labour, and as a long-standing member of the party's Socialist Campaign Group, she stands a chance of garnering support from those MPs disappointed that Jon Cruddas ruled himself out.

If nothing else, this looks set to be an interesting contest.

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Tags: Labour leadership

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16 comments

Thu, 2010-05-20 16:13 — Srh

Diane Abbott makes my skin boil - she is lazy, negative and coast on the loyal support of her ethnic constituents. She is a disgrace to her East London constituency!

Fri, 2010-05-21 12:27 — jeremiah

One scheming feminist in enough in the elected leadership of the party, thank you very much!

Thu, 2010-05-20 10:23 — salil

She is to the Left of the New Labour, but chose a private school for her child. One rule for the masses, one for the self. I don't blame her choice, given the sorry state of state schools. But is it too much to expect consistency from those who claim to be of the Left, then make convenient choices for themselves, forcing socialism on those "below"?

Thu, 2010-05-20 10:31 — malil (not verified)

@salil
Every child has his or her own individual needs. She's entitled to send her child wherever she deems fit.

When MPs are relatively well-paid. And are universally criticised for claiming expenses. Why would you necessarily want her to send her child to a government school - at public expense - when she could well afford to send him elsewhere?

Thu, 2010-05-20 10:36 — Tristan (not verified)

@salil I appreciate that it's an embarrassing situation for DA to preach fairness and equality but to send her children to an elitest school. However, I don't think it's fair to say that by "forcing" socialism upon people she would be therefore scrapping private education. I find that comment bizarre.

Thu, 2010-05-20 11:05 — Ricardo1

People seem very critical of Clegg and Cameron for going to a private school, so how's a woman who sends her children to one any better?

Thu, 2010-05-20 11:11 — ROBERT TAGGART (not verified)

No pantomime be complete without a dame !

Thu, 2010-05-20 11:12 — Sue Davies (not verified)

I'm very impressed- this is a superb opportunity to open up the v.debate that the LP needs - the left has been totally ignored and marginalised... deliberately by the Blair/Brown coalition... and yet many of the grass roots remain closer to Abbott than Miliband.

Thu, 2010-05-20 11:13 — Joe (not verified)

Because Ricardo, Clegg and Cameron went to two of the most expensive and elitist in the world, the alumni of which tend to go on to positions that those from ordinary backgrounds can only dream of.

I guess you can call it long memory, all power to Diane I say, whoever made the prediction that the next leader will be called milliband or edd might be getting a tad worried.

Thu, 2010-05-20 11:35 — swatantra nandanwar

Well done Dianne! You've made my day and all BAME and women members pleased. You won't win but we'll get some idea of whereabouts the Left are in the Party, after the disasters of '83. Put yourself in the Deputy Leadership race as well, when Harriet decides to step down which I hope will be next week. You could win that one. As for the 'school issue' well nobody's perfect. Labour have to make every neighbourhood school a school of choice for parents.

Thu, 2010-05-20 11:52 — clem the gem (not verified)

"Anybody who lives their life according to how the world ought to be, instead of how it is, is a crank"
- Major Attlee, old Haileyburian.
As a white, working class state school oik myself, I fully support Diannes' candidacy. Up the Abbot!
Go for Deputy as well, so long as Cruddas doesn't.
Now we can have a proper debate about where we should be going, and hopefully put tired old "New Labour" to rest.

Thu, 2010-05-20 12:28 — Dave the Rave (not verified)

Interesting. We all know who's going to win in the end though, don't we?

Thu, 2010-05-20 13:17 — davidk1

Oh dear.

Thu, 2010-05-20 13:45 — salil

@malil and @tristan: If taxes were lower, or parents without the means were given vouchers, they too could have the choice to send their kids with special needs to private schools. Surely that shouldn't be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. But Abbott won't do that; others must deal with the consequence of the state's policy - of sub-standard schools in general, with a few great ones being exceptions. I don't at all grudge her sending her kids to the best place for them. But it should be as easy for everyone else to do so.