Diane: Celebrating 20 Years at the Top

06 Jun 2007

The 11th June 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of Diane Abbott’s election as Britain’s first black female MP.  The occasion will be commemorated with a series of events celebrating successful black women and Diane’s life in politics, the first of which will be a press call on Parliament Square on the 11th followed by a reception hosted by the Fawcett Society.

Diane Abbott was first elected as MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in the 1987 election. She has represented the constituency ever since and is now recognised as both an advocate for local issues and a staunch supporter of international campaigns. Over the course of her political career she has spoken out against the Iraq war, Stop and Search powers, nuclear weapons and the Guantanamo Bay camps. She has waged long-standing campaigns on black educational underachievement, gun crime and gender and racial discrimination.

Speaking about her anniversary, Diane said:

“I cannot believe that it is twenty years since I was first elected. The years seem to have gone by in the twinkling of an eye. One of my proudest moments was election day in 1987 itself. I was the first black woman ever elected to Parliament. Throughout the campaign people kept telling me it could not happen. When they announced the result in Hackney Town Hall it felt like a dream. My mother was there at the count and she was ready to burst with pride. My biggest regret is that after twenty years there are still only two black women. But apart from that if I had to do it all again, I would do it all again."

Ends

 Editor’s notes:

 

1                   A press and photo-call with birthday cake will take place on the 11th June at 12 noon on the green at Parliament Square. MP for Brent South Dawn Butler will also be attending.



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