“I have come a long way to stand before you tonight,” said newly elected Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott in 1987 during her victory speech, wearing a beaming smile, but with tears in her eyes. At only 33 years old, Abbott had achieved a remarkable feat, as the first black woman to become a Member of Parliament in the UK. “I am aware that a lot of hopes, not just in Hackney, but across the country, ride on our victory tonight,” she went on. "I hope and believe that I can fulfil those hopes.”
Abbott, now 70, has even further since that speech, almost 40 years ago, and this week yet again finds herself at the centre of a row in the Labour party at a critical moment in its history. Abbott claims that she has been barred from standing as a Labour candidate in the July 4 general election. However, Labour leader Sir Keir has insisted no decision had yet been taken about whether Abbott will be allowed to defend her seat.
