Presently, Diane Abbott MP is greeted as the Chair of the high profile All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia. Also, we’re accustomed to seeing her confidently discussing current political affairs on TV, but where did this confidence come from, and what’s the journey of the daughter of a late welder and psychiatric nurse to black journalist making history? Fatima Dupres-Griffiths traces the historic journey of parliamentarian Diane Abbott MP. In 1987 Diane Abbott ,Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, made history by becoming the first black woman ever elected to the British Parliament. She steadfastly built a glowing career as parliamentarian, broadcaster and commentator. Born in London in 1953, Diane attended Harrow County grammar school and then went on to Newnham College Cambridge, obtaining a Masters degree in history. On leaving Cambridge University, Diane joined Government as a Home Office Civil Servant. She then worked for lobby group the National Council for Civil Liberties, honing her debating and presentational skills. Later, Diane became a journalist, gaining both great written and oral skills, which gave her the necessary confidence to appear on camera.
 Diane worked extensively as a freelancer, then reported for TV-AM and Thames Television. She also worked as a public relations consultant for various public sector clients, building prestigious networking and people skills and building a huge contacts base, enabling her to make a smooth transition into Parliament, political debate and representing her constituents effectively.
Diane has served on a number of parliamentary committees on social and international issues. She was also elected on to the National Executive of the Labour Party. Most of the 1990's she served on the Treasury Select Committee of the House of Commons: the committee dealing with business/ finance matters. As a member of this committee Diane went frequently to Washington DC, New York, Frankfurt and other financial cities. She met with senior politicians, bankers and financial regulators internationally and helped author a series of official reports on issues like Britain's entry into the European Community. Diane went on to serve on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. As a member of that committee she went to Kenya, Uganda, China, Hong Kong and many European countries. Diane took particular interest in human rights.
Most recently she has set up a special parliamentary committee investigating gun crime, an issue being hotly addressed in her ward. As an experienced public speaker and broadcaster, Diane has spoken at colleges and universities all over the United States including Ivy League universities like Harvard. She also appears regularly on radio and television. Her most recent appearances include hosting a phone-in show for LBC radio, presenting a programme on the Treasury for BBC Radio 4 and regular appearances on the BBC1 late night political discussion show with Andrew Neil and Michael Portillo MP. Widely known, this grammar school educated lady enjoys reading and going to the cinema. Diane Abbott MP was the daughter of the late Reginald Abbott, a welder. Her mother, the late Mrs Julie Abbott was a psychiatric nurse. Diane herself was married to David Thompson in 1991. However, they later divorced in 1993. As a single mother to a son, Diane is very aware of many of the challenges faced by the residents in her ward, since Hackney is a very young borough facing high unemployment and the severe impacts of poverty and the resulting poor health. She has made the necessary personal and political transitions to become a first in British politics by current roles as a Member of the Greater London Assembly advisory cabinet for women and equality from 2002. Diane is also the Chair of the Caribbean Group 2001, and the Race and Community Group 2002. Diane is Secretary of the All-Party Tribal Peoples Group 2007.As Chair of the APPG on Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia, set up in October 2008, the group aims to raise awareness of the health inequalities within Parliament. The main objectives will be to bridge the gap between clinicians, politicians and sufferers. They’ve made significant progress and development in two key areas: prescription charges and the evaluation of the educational and social impacts on such blood disorders. Chairwoman Diane Abbott says: “ sickle cell is a ‘ Cinderella’ condition that has not had the attention and resources that it deserves,…that is why I helped set up the APPG.” The success of the sickle cell APPG depends on the dedication and support of MPs and peers. Another prominent member is Dawn Butler, MP for Brent South a carrier of the trait herself, who’s played an active role in raising awareness of this disease.
Together, these two MPs from African Caribbean descent are championing free prescription charges and access to the necessary support for the devastating pain experienced by sickle cell and thalassaemia sufferers. All told, Diane Abbott MP has made a long, strategic and successful journey to becoming the fist black woman elected to the British Parliament. |
