Diane Abbott - to stand or not?

[Onemoreterm]

According to some reports she was to make an announcement about not standing in next election.

YNBU - let her stand. She held a majority in last election and will do so again. Has unions supporting her.

AIBU - she is a liability. Time for someone younger

Your choices are badly phrased.

Someone might think that she shouldn't stand but wouldn't think it's because someone younger should stand.

I don’t think Labour should stop her from standing IMHO. She has represented Hackney for years and central office shouldn’t interfere

She is very popular in her local area. If the decision were solely up to the constituency Labour Party, she would be the candidate.

I think she is a liability and it is time that she gave way to someone else.

I am a firm believer in their being a “None of the above” option for voters. If you get hideous people standing for a party you would otherwise vote for, you should be able to return a none of the above vote. There is a safe Tory seat near here. They’d vote for Pol Pot if he wore a blue rosette. Their MP is dreadful and doesn’t help constituents, but people still vote based on her being a Tory. We should not have to accept crap candidates.

if she can’t even manage going out in two matching shoes , I’m not sure she should potentially be trusted with important political decisions

YANBU, she should be allowed to stand.

She is a very accomplished woman and her constituents like her, and continually vote to keep her in - kind of how democracy should work

If she does get re-elected as a Labour MP there is no way she will be given a front bench position so no one needs worry about shoes/martinis/gaffs etc. Except her constituents but they're supportive of her.

Really?

you don’t think a masters from Cambridge, being a renowned journalist, award winning human rights advocate, founder and experienced politician makes her able to be trusted with political decisions?

She has a fantastic record, but I honestly think she is unwell and ought to have a dignified retirement with thanks for her public service and amazing record.
Robert Peston said on twitter that there was a plan for this but something's gone wrong.

“Hi, I’m your doctor. I have many years of training and advanced degrees. You have X wrong with you.

if you look, I haven’t noticed, or don’t care, that I have two unmatching left shoes on my feet. Are you still happy to trust what I say in regards to the details of your care?”

Angela Raynor has just come out in support of Diane.

Final decision have to be made by Tuesday.

I think she shouldn't stand but should make that decision herself not have it made for her. I don't think she's up to it anymore, but has been treated appallingly.

I don't think she should stand because nobody should put themselves through the absolutely appauling abuse Diane has.

AIBU - she is a liability. Time for someone younger

is this all you have can come up with on this matter? really?

Diane Abbott is 70 years old.

Whilst I think there are plenty of MPs who are that age and are still very capable of the job there are a number of reasons why I do think she should seriously consider retiring.

Firstly, she was suspended for a reason. She was given a formal warning and has been required to do training over her antisemitic comments.

This raises questions over whether she is the best candidate in 2024.

Reasonably the chances of there being an expensive by-election are high too. Her age isn't the be all and end all.

What concerns me most us her shaking.

She was on BBC news doing a speech about wanting to stand and she was struggling to hold the microphone she was shaking so much.

This isn't speculation about her health. This is something anyone who has watched the news can see quite easily.

Whilst I am for disabled and those with chronic illness standing for election - they are important for representation in parliament, I just think with Diane Abbott with all the other issues and this alarming question mark about her health and her ability to do the job going forward, that maybe she should be asking herself whether actually now is the right time to step down. She still can have a valuable role to play within politics if she chooses. She doesn't have to continue to be an MP to do that.

I just feel that at this point vanity and proving a point rather than the interests of her constituents is coming first. That's never a good look.

You really didn’t have to embarrass @Anniewestest like that…..

She’s not going to be a liability as she won’t get a government job. She is a very good constituency MP.

Agree. Why are you linking her being older with her being a liability? That’s nothing to bloody do with it. There are plenty of young momentum liability wankers around in the Labour Party.

I’m not a fan of DA but it’s nothing to do with her age. There are plenty of older women I am a huge fan of.

YABU OP for your crass contempt for women simply because they had audacity not to die young.

Will she be a good constituency MP going forward?

That's a different question to has she been a good constituency MP in the past.

Honestly the footage I've seen of her speaking within the last 24hrs that I've seen today is very concerning with that in mind.

There is clearly a major issue with her health that I do think has got to, or is likely to get to, a point where she is going to be unable to do her job for the next five years.

At 70, being in that position where it is so apparent, you should be asking some serious questions about whether you still are the best candidate to serve the constituency you love.

And I would be saying the same about any MP for any party with similar issues. It's not just a 'Diane Abbott thing'.

Diane Abbott said a few years ago that she is diabetic. I am not aware of any other health issues and indeed they are none of our business.

I think that the best option might be to stand, and then at some point before the subsequent general election, retire.

I don't agree with many of her views on a number of issues, but recognise what she has battled against and been a trail blazer.

I feel sorry for her. Yes she has many great achievements to be lauded but so do many people. One should know when the time is right to step aside. She now looks unwell and mostly talks a lot of codswallop.

Labour have created a really awkward situation for themselves where it either looks like Keir can’t stick to decisions/people don’t respect or listen to him, or that many people are upset that Diane has been ousted.

I personally don’t understand how anyone can listen to her speaking and think she belongs in any sort of political role - Cambridge graduate or not. But that’s just me 🤷🏻‍♀️

Abbott isn't a doctor though.

I'm a teacher and once got to school with mismatched shoes. Still managed to teach year 9.

https://x.com/Channel4News/status/1795897261894844627?t=rwUtsASbMyC47s-pB0XDbA&s=19

Footage from last night from her speech outside Hackney Town Hall.

It is going to be difficult to simply dismiss the level of the shaking. You can say it's just a smear from people making up shit and saying it's because they hate her.

If she is diabetic and this is the cause of her shakes, she isn't managing it well and that raises questions in itself anyway.

It's hard, but at what point do Labour say '"ook thank you for your wonderful service, but really we think we've both reached the point where 'it's time' for all concerned"?

No but it was a comparison that if someone is in a position of power and responsibility then you expect them to be able to dress themselves correctly. It's a snap shot isn't it.