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

Time for someone younger

What many of her detractors would like is someone whiter and more male. Not younger.

They're drawing it out. I don’t feel strongly either way but the party infighting is something

If Labour say no imo she should stand as an independent. Age is clearly no barrier to people turning up to support her.

I don't mind a scruffy politician. I don't think she is scruffy ,mind.

I am, however, of the opinion she wanted to retire gracefully and has had that messily managed.

And less left wing.

If Abbott has health issues that’s between her and her doctor. She’s a sitting MP with a good record as a constituency MP and, as far as I can tell, her constituents want to her to continue. As such, it really should be her decision whether to continue or not.

It sounds like she is a fantastic MP, but is atrocious in front of a camera. I guess the two skillsets don't necessarily overlap. So I think she should be able to stand, but Starmer should keep her away from the media.

I agree on this. I think there are words and actions that can be problematic but age isn’t it

If he lets her stand after effectively saying she can’t he will look like a joke.

I think that she should be allowed to stand. If her constituents want her as their MP, they'll vote for her, if they don't they won't...

This dignified service Dianne Abbott has given the country, that everyone on the left seems to be lauding, seems to comprise of calling everyone and everything racist while smashing back tins of cocktails, sending her son to private school and then visiting him in prison. While having said that Mao did more good than harm.

She’s clearly unwell. Maybe her diabetes isn’t under control. However, she’s been treated appallingly. She has given so much and faced so much hate. This is not the way to treat someone who’s been in the party this long, regardless of whether she’s on the ‘wrong wing’.

Also the comments she made that got her thrown out, are nothing close to some of the stuff currently serving MPs have said.

I mean given the abuse she’s faced as an MP, saying that Irish, Jewish and Romany Gypsy’s, suffer prejudice but not racism, isn’t that offensive. She was speaking from her own perspective in regard to being a visible minority in the public eye and comparing that to how she sees people from other groups treated. If all those other groups, had fair skin, an English accent and wore an England top, they’d be able to walk freely through the middle of a Britain First rally unmolested. She experiences visceral hate every day and this will shape her perspective.

I think she’s unwell and should retire, but her treatment is out of order. Older women with a voice should clearly just skink off and die somewhere quietly.

Will she be a good constituency MP going forward?

Quite possibly not. But her constituents will almost certainly have faith in her and she will be re-elected. If her health means there's a by-election (and yes I agree she does not appear at all well), then the Labour candidate will presumably be elected.

I forgot to add that she’s well respected in her community, and really spends time there, trying to help her constituents. Compare this to other MPs who spend more time on GB News, or touring speaking circuits, never to be seen by their constituents.

True @Piggywaspushed

She didn't look too well last night- shaking and slightly slurry speech :(

I don’t care if she stands or not, but she is providing entertainment in an otherwise boring election.

Whether the Cons or Lab get in, we are screwed. What Diane has highlighted is that Labour are as just as much a shit show, with infighting and disorganisation as the current lot.

You can have you own reasons why she shouldn’t. She has held the seat since 1987. Some of her constituents have only ever had Diane. Change can be good if done properly

or appearing on Have I Got News For You or I’m a Celebrity

No.

Whatever people have achieved earlier in their career does not automatically make them fit for office forevermore.

Why does it matter? Not like Starmer will have her anywhere near any cabinet.

Up to her constitutents in Hackney if they want to vote for her or not.

In what way does someone having a mild shake in their hand mean their cognitive function and capabilities are impaired?

He levels of competency maybe should be questioned, and the question of whether she is well enough to stand is something only she can decide. I do think she has been treated appallingly for years and years.

So I say let her stand - it's then up to the constituents in her area as to whether they want her representing them or not.

They should give her a peerage (seen that on Twitter), political, prestigious, but fewer responsibilities

Like men, women should fail forward.

I mean given the abuse she’s faced as an MP, saying that Irish, Jewish and Romany Gypsy’s, suffer prejudice but not racism, isn’t that offensive. She was speaking from her own perspective in regard to being a visible minority in the public eye and comparing that to how she sees people from other groups treated. If all those other groups, had fair skin, an English accent and wore an England top, they’d be able to walk freely through the middle of a Britain First rally unmolested. She experiences visceral hate every day and this will shape her perspective

On this I disagree. There are many, and I am one of them, who find this very offensive. But more to the point, what she has said is counter to the law in the UK where Irish, Jewish and Romany Gypsy's do come under the protected characteristic of race. Having an MP, whose job it is to make and change laws, arguing publicly that certain groups of people do not count as races who can experience racism, is actually quite a big deal in that context.

What if they want to vote Labour, but not for her.

Thankfully I'm not in her constituency & nor will I be voting Labour.

The woman has been a liability for a long time, I don't think she should be standing.