Diane Abbott became the first Black person in the United Kingdom to represent a political party during the prime minister's questions, a weekly battle between political factions in Parliament.
At #PMQs today I questioned this Tory government on their shameful record on issues relating to women. pic.twitter.com/zgozWzHEjW
— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) October 2, 2019
On Tuesday, Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote on Twitter that Abbott would be standing in for him during the session in honor of the country's Black History Month.
This #BlackHistoryMonth we're inspired by the struggles of black campaigners, including the first black MPs elected in 1987.
Tomorrow one of those pioneering MPs, a child of the Windrush Generation, Diane Abbott, will be the first black person to represent their party at #PMQs. pic.twitter.com/WlCo3WnkSY
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 1, 2019
The 66-year-old is a longtime member of parliament, now serving as Shadow Home Secretary. She became the first Black woman elected to the House of Commons in 1987 and is now one of Labour's longest-serving MPs.
During her speech, she questioned conservative lawmaker Dominic Raab, the current secretary of state for foreign affairs, about a variety of issues including Brexit and women's rights. Raab was standing in place for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who skipped the session to speak at a Conservative party conference in Manchester.
"Whether it's women members in this House, women claiming benefits, women's reproductive rights in Northern Ireland, and the failure to support women workers at Thomas Cook, isn't this a Government letting women down?" Abbott questioned.
She went on to slam Raab and his party for not taking women's issues seriously and using threatening language toward female MPs as well as women in general.
"The foreign secretary hasn't mentioned the fact there are over 600,000 more women and girls in poverty now than in 2010. And I can just say gently to him that I was a member of this House when Tory MPs defenestrated the then female prime minister Mrs. Thatcher, and I've been a member of this House when Tory MPs worked their will to the immediate female prime minister," Abbott said.
"It seems to me that Tory Members of Parliament may on occasion make women their leaders but they need to learn how to treat them less cruelly," she continued.
Thousands of Twitter users were overjoyed by the milestone and defended Abbott against almost immediate criticism from the country's conservative media.
Diane Abbott is an inspiration to anyone who has been bullied in their life. She is the most abused MP, she gets the most vile comments thrown her way every time she makes a TV appearance and yet she always stands tall and faces it anyway. She never backs down. Go on Diane! #PMQs
— Graham Budden (@graham_budden) October 2, 2019
Diane Abbott. A woman who deserves huge credit full stop. One of the first black MPs in parliament. Now the first black MP to deliver PMQs. A woman who has been constantly villified & yet always shows great integrity & composure. We are lucky to have her in the LAB movement#PMQs
— Bevan Boy???? (@mac123_m) October 2, 2019
Abbott is MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington and has served as shadow home secretary since 2016.
