“Why is the first Black woman elected to the UK Parliament, now the longest-serving female MP, being disrespected, disregarded, and treated so unfairly?”
By Lucie Scott
Talking about igniting a fury with the whole saga Starmer has mired himself in — yes, it is way down the list of those who have been violated, abused, traumatised, and failed — but there is a particular Black woman who has also been violated, abused, and failed by the current leadership of the Labour Party.
When we think about how decisions are made, and who is seen as acceptable regardless of the literal red flags they have waved, who is waved through, and who is punished, denigrated, and blocked by the misuse of the party’s own procedures and levers of power.
So, as well as the various Black women across the country who have been blocked, suspended, and expelled by the current Labour Party, I must raise the case of Diane Abbott MP — a veteran MP who has endured the most disgusting and racial abuse of any elected MP; who has been violated and abused by wealthy and powerful men inside and outside of the Labour Party. Following the findings of the Forde Report, there was still no specific apology for the vile remarks that had been publicly discussed. The Speaker of the House ignored her 45 times after the Hester remarks were publicised.
Hackney North & Stoke Newington fought hard for Diane Abbott to remain as their MP, coming out to show amazing support for her — a campaign that demanded that an MP who had been reselected should be able to stand. Until Starmer was almost forced to give Diane her “freedom”, rather than account for his own lies regarding her investigation.
So, for her to be suspended again from the Labour Party last July, for discussing her own experience of racism, seems all the more outrageous considering what has transpired recently in relation to Mandelson.
Whether Starmer survives or not, why is Diane Abbott still suspended? Why is the first Black woman elected to the UK Parliament, now the longest-serving female MP — the Mother of the House — being disrespected, disregarded, and treated so unfairly? This is an attempt to besmirch Diane’s legacy, and it is not acceptable.
This has to be a game-changer, and tackling misogyny has to be at the heart of that fundamental change within the culture of power. The abuse of women, whether they are young or older, has to be challenged.
Reinstating Diane Abbott would be a step in the right direction.
- Lucie Scott is an activist in Hackney and was previously the Vice-Chair of Hackney North & Stoke Newington Constituency Labour Party.
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For crying out loads, will someone show some balls and back bone and get Starmer out, he’s mad a laughing stock of Britain and brought us nearly to our knees, when is enough enough