Diane Abbott

Diane Julie Abbott (born September 27, 1953 in Paddington, London) is a British Labour Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency. She was the first black woman elected to the House of Commons when she was elected in the 1987 General Election. Indeed, she remained the only black woman MP for ten years until she was joined in the House by Oona King in 1997.

Related Topics:
September 27 - 1953 - Paddington - London - British - Labour - Member of Parliament - Hackney North and Stoke Newington - Constituency - House of Commons - 1987 General Election - Oona King - 1997

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Born to Jamaican immigrants, her father a welder, her mother a nurse, Abbott went to Harrow City Girls' School and then Newnham College, Cambridge where she read history. After leaving university, she became a researcher for Thames Television. Between 1976 and 1980 she was a civil servant at the Home Office, and then between 1982 and 1987 a journalist. Between 1982 to 1986 she was a member of Westminster City Council. In the late 1980s she became the press officer of the Greater London Council (then led by Ken Livingstone), before becoming an MP in 1987. She has always been on the Left of the party, and is a member of the Campaign Group.

Related Topics:
Jamaica - Harrow City Girls' School - Newnham College - Cambridge - Thames Television - 1976 - 1980 - Civil servant - Home Office - 1982 - 1987 - Journalist - 1986 - Westminster City Council - 1980s - Greater London Council - Ken Livingstone - Left - Campaign Group

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Diane Abbott was married in 1991 until a divorce in 1993; she had one son, by that marriage. Notably, she chose as her son's godfather Jonathan Aitken.

Related Topics:
1991 - Divorce - 1993 - Jonathan Aitken

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She has pursued a media career, notably as a pundit alongside Conservative Michael Portillo (who also grew up and went to school in Harrow), on the BBC's weekly politics digest This Week. Indeed the relationship between Abbott and Portillo goes back many years. At school she played Lady Macbeth to his Macbeth in a production of the William Shakespeare play.

Related Topics:
Michael Portillo - BBC - Macbeth - William Shakespeare

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