Abbott attacks ‘ridiculous’ Labour contest
By politics.co.uk staff
Rules for the Labour leadership contest have been designed to “strangle the left”, contender Diane Abbott has claimed.
The left-wing MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington is struggling to secure the 33 nominations needed to secure her place on the ballot paper. At present she has only won the backing of five MPs.
Writing in today’s Times, Ms Abbott – the only female candidate standing in the election to replace Gordon Brown – attacked the similarities of the three contenders who have passed the 33-MP threshold.
“That they are all white may be inconsequential; it may be of only passing interest that all were political advisers under New Labour and that none has had a proper job; it is probably of only minor significance that they all used to play football together,” she wrote.
“Probably more salient is that you cannot put a cigarette paper between their beliefs. But most blindingly obvious is that there will not be a single woman on the ballot paper.”
David Miliband, Ed Miliband and Ed Balls all served in Mr Brown’s government. Former health secretary Andy Burnham could be the biggest casualty of the nomination requirements, having only secured 20 MPs’ backing so far.
Ms Abbott and fellow left-winger John McDonnell are not expected to be joining them. Nominations must be received by next Wednesday.
The terms of the leadership race have attracted some controversy. Yesterday acting leader Harriet Harman called for half the shadow Cabinet to be women.
Earlier in the week frontrunner David Miliband said candidates should avoid trying to change the rules once the contest had started, but offered his nomination to Ms Abbott if it would help her get over the line.
