Image Source: Sky News
July 9, 2024 Story by: Editor
Diane Abbott has earned the title Mother of the House, designated for the longest-serving female MP, as the newly elected Parliament convened last week to elect a Speaker.
The veteran Labour MP, representing Hackney North and Stoke Newington, joined Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh in the formalities that marked the beginning of parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle acknowledged her achievements before his re-election, stating, “You’ve served for 37 years, and broken many glass ceilings along the way.”
Abbott, elected to parliament in 1987, was the first Black woman to become a Member of Parliament. A staunch left-winger and close ally of Jeremy Corbyn during his leadership, she served as Shadow Home Secretary from 2016 to 2020, but remained controversially suspended until the early part of the election campaign.
In his inaugural speech as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer also honored Abbott. He remarked that she “had done so much in her career over so many years to fight for a Parliament that truly represents modern Britain.”
Starmer highlighted the diversity of the new parliament, noting it as the most diverse by race and gender in the country’s history and boasting the largest cohort of LGBT+ MPs of any parliament worldwide.
Following this, Hoyle was re-elected as Speaker of the House of Commons, despite recent controversies over Gaza votes, with two colleagues ceremoniously guiding him to the Speaker’s Chair as per parliamentary tradition.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, making his first appearance at the dispatch box as leader of the opposition, also commended Abbott: “We have our differences on policy, but no one can deny the Right Honourable Lady’s important role in this House and the inspiration for so many young women of colour that she has provided.”
He congratulated Starmer as well, stating, “In our politics we can argue vigorously but still respect each other. We are all motivated by our desire to serve our constituents, our country and advance the principles that we honorably believe in.”
Abbott, in turn, congratulated Lindsay Hoyle on his re-election as Speaker, saying, “He has been a Speaker through tumultuous times, but he has never failed to serve with grace and expertise and fairness.” Source: Labour List
