Diane Abbott accuses Commons Speaker of failing democracy
Diane Abbott criticizes Commons Speaker for debate exclusion
Diane Abbott, a prominent political figure, accused the Speaker of the House of Commons of undermining democracy by not allowing her the opportunity to speak during a recent debate concerning derogatory remarks made about her. Alleged comments made by a Conservative party donor, Frank Hester, stating that Abbott made him “want to hate all black women,” dominated yesterday’s Prime Minister’s Questions. Despite her continuous attempts to address the Prime Minister, Abbott was not selected for questions.
All-party rejection of racism required
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, faced repeated demands to return £10 million in Tory donations from Frank Hester. Hester reportedly made disparaging comments about Abbott, stating that she “should be shot” and that he “want[s] to hate all black women.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson characterized these remarks as “wrong” and “racist,” though Hester has already apologized, drawing calls for his remorse to be accepted.
Abbott’s frustrations with Speaker and democracy
During the debate, Abbott rose to catch the Speaker’s attention at least 46 times in an attempt to ask a question, but she was not given the opportunity. In a social media message following the session, Abbott accused Sir Lindsay Hoyle of failing both the House of Commons and democracy itself. She expressed her doubt over the Speaker’s claims that there was insufficient time and questioned his impartiality in the selection of speakers.
Speaker’s response and limited time constraints
A spokesperson for the Speaker responded by saying, “During Prime Minister’s Questions, the Speaker must select MPs from either side of the House on an alternating basis for fairness. This takes place within a limited time frame, with the Chair prioritising members on the order paper. This week, as is often the case, there was not enough time to call all members who wanted to ask a question.”
Abbott’s ongoing plight for racial justice
Previously, in April 2023, Abbott issued an apology and sat as an independent MP after writing a letter to the Observer in which she suggested that Irish, Jewish, and Traveller people had not experienced racism throughout their lives, which she later acknowledged as an inaccurate representation of reality that caused distress to some individuals. After the debate, Abbott approached Sir Keir Starmer and urged him to reinstate her party whip.
Unheard voices and calls for support
Various politicians, including Charlotte Nichols and Stella Creasy, expressed disappointment over the lack of opportunity for Abbott to voice her concerns during the debate. The Labour party, in particular, encouraged public support for Abbott and her right to be heard in the aftermath of Hester’s comments.
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