Speeches

Labour's Diane Abbott spoke about the "scourge" of the "proliferation" of betting shops, stating that in Hackney there were approximately 90 such shops, three times the national average. Hitting out at their "predatory nature", she said, they targeted the poorest areas with the highest levels of unemployment and poverty. Ms Abbott backed Ms Portas' recommendation that such shops, should be put in a separate use class of their own for planning decisions.

Lansley's NHS plans will fragment cancer diagnosis and endanger lives

In Westminster Debate, Diane Abbott says the idea that the riots were a consequence of organised gang activity stops us from looking at the complexities behind the riots.

Diane Abbott, Shadow Public Health Minister, takes part in Westminster Hall debate to call for greater awareness for sufferers of the condition

An anti-choice campaign is heavily defeated in Parliament, as Diane leads Labour through the debate

Diane discusses the riots in the House of Commons

On 16th May, Diane Abbott spoke on the latest situation on Libya, in a debate in the house of Commons on Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

During a debate in Westminster Hall, Ms Abbott said that schools must be on the frontline in the battle for better childhood health, that issues around parenting and ‘sedentary' childhood lifestyles must be urgently addressed and she also called on the government to implement a traffic labelling system for foods, to help British families make healthy choices about the food they eat.

Diane Abbott issues warning about action in Libya

The impact of the Government's NHS reorganisation on Essex is discussed