Diane Abbott MP

Politician; MP, Hackney North and Stoke Newington

Diane Abbott attended Harrow County School and Newnham College, Cambridge where she studied History. On leaving university she joined the Civil Service, before working on the lobby group the National Council for Civil Liberties. Between 1980 and 1987 she worked in journalism, whilst also moving into politics as a councillor for Westminster City Council. In 1987 she was elected to the House of Commons, replacing Ernest Roberts as Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, becoming the first black woman to be elected to parliament. She has served on a number of parliamentary committees, including the Treasury Select Committee and the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

Abbott is a well-known public speaker and also regularly features on BBC’s This Week with Michael Portillo and Andrew Neill. She held her seat in the 2010 general election and following the resignation of Gordon Brown formally entered the race for the leadership of the Labour Party.