Cambridge Alumna Diane Abbot joins Labour Leadership Race

Leftwing MP Diane Abbott is no stranger to firsts. Back in 1987 she became the first Black woman to be elected to Parliament, and last month she was the first woman to enter contest to succeed Gordon Brown as leader of the Labour Party.

The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, doubled her majority in the recent local elections and successfully secured the 33 nominations needed to get her on to the ballot paper in the five-horse race alongside Mr Miliband, his brother Ed, Andy Burnham and Ed Balls .

Abbott, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, was previously quoted by The Guardian as highlighting that none of the current frontrunners in the race would admit that the immigration system is "still inefficient and unfair and brings abuse, but nobody will say we have to address the underlying issues behind black and white working-class unease about immigration, about housing, job insecurity.

"And, you know, if we are going to have a debate about immigration, I am the child of immigrants. Don't the millions of British people who are the children of immigrants have a voice in this debate also? I could not be more serious."

Born on September 27th, 1953, in London of Jamaican parents, Abbott was educated at Harrow County Girls' Grammar School and Newnham College, Cambridge, with an MA in History.

Read More
Diane Abbott - website
Diane Abbott - Wikipedia
Diane Abbott's page on 100 Great Black Britons
Abbott joins leadership race - The Guardian, 20 May 2010
Abbott makes the final cut - Daily Mirror, 10 June 2010

Refocus Youths - Youth Conference, Saturday 12 June 2010

Nnamdi Odozi would like you to spread the word about this Youth Conference on Saturday - see flyer - tell the young people you know and their parents.

The event is being organised by the wife of the Nigerian Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Mrs Nwanna, who is very passionate about young people and education. 


Dr Nwanna has set up a charity Refocus Youths to tackle the problem of underachievement amongst young people.


The event will be held at Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre, Harrow Road NW10 from 10:00 to 15:00.

www.thediversitygroup.co.uk

The Diversity Group promotes equal opportunities to people from every kind of minority background or lifestyle, including race, gender, disability, age, faith and sexual orientation.

www.ethnicbritain.co.uk

Equality Britain promotes opportunites in employment and education to BME communities. Used by organisations across the UK to promote their commitment to equality.