Diane Abbott

Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British Labour Party politician who was appointed as Shadow Home Secretary in October 2016. She was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington at the 1987 general election, when she became the first black woman to have a seat in the House of Commons.

Abbott's career in politics began in 1982 when she was elected to Westminster City Council serving until 1986. In 1985 she unsuccessfully fought to be selected in Brent East, losing out to Ken Livingstone. In 1987 she was elected to the House of Commons, replacing the deselected serving Labour MP Ernest Roberts as MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington.