MPs talked about racism toward Diane Abbott today – except for Diane Abbott, who couldn’t get a word in for herself, despite wearing an eye-catching red jacket…

One of the many times Diane Abbott stood to speakr today – in a bright red jacket in a sea of blue – and was ignored

During Prime Minister’s Questions today, MPs discussed the appalling racism toward Diane Abbott, Britain’s first Black woman MP, by the Tories’ biggest donor.

Except for Ms Abbott herself, anyway. She stood repeatedly – at least 46 times – throughout the question session, wearing a bright red jacket amid a sea of mostly blue suits – and was ignored, every single time, by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, forcing her to sit and listen as others discussed her without being able to speak for herself:

I guess Lindsay Hoyle didn't notice the left wing black woman wanting to speak while other MP's spoke about her. I mean, what other explanation could there be? pic.twitter.com/IRkagSVs4D

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 13, 2024

Keir Starmer tried to use the session to make political capital about Tory racism, but has overseen widespread racism against Black and Brown MPs among the Labour right and has let disgusting behaviour toward Abbott by right-wing staff and MPs – including Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting – go unpunished.

Perhaps Hoyle was worried Ms Abbott would point this out. The Speaker recently disgusted many MPs by breaking Commons protocols to allow Starmer to hijack a Commons vote on an SNP motion for a Gaza – and tried to excuse it by claiming, ridiculously, that he did it to keep MPs safe. Former party adviser James Schneider and others saw the link and commented:

Countdown to a tearful Lindsay Hoyle @CommonsSpeaker addressing the Commons to say:

"I'm sorry I didn't call Diane Abbott to talk about her own abuse when others were. That was wrong.

"But I WILL NOT allow another 9/11 terror attack on this HOUSE.

"MPs must be protected."

— James Schneider (@schneiderhome) March 13, 2024

Speaker's excuse for overriding an SNP day was his concern for MPs safety.
Yet he doesn't allow Diane Abbott to question the PM who is saying an apology from a man who called for her to be shot should be accepted. Not the PM's right to accept any apology it's up to Diane Abbott.

— Colin Patton (@colinpatton10) March 13, 2024

Saul Staniforth, who compiled the video, has posted examples of some of the egregious establishment racism and mistreatment toward Diane Abbott, who has long been the most abused MP:

Anyone else remember how Jess Phillips bragged to journalists for years that she'd told Diane Abbott to fuck off. Diane has said Phillips made it up. pic.twitter.com/36u3rDVPc6

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 13, 2024

Anyone remember how, during the warm up to a program in 2019, QT host Fiona Bruce implied Diane Abbott got the job as shadow home secretary because of a previous personal relationship with Jeremy Corbyn

But its ok, because sneering abuse is just light hearted bantz, apparently. pic.twitter.com/UjORiI7ifx

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) March 13, 2024

The time when a white person impersonated a black Labour MP (one of the most abused MP's in parliament), while three other white people laughed along – one of those three being a fellow Labour MP. pic.twitter.com/EuXwyiZvLh

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) May 31, 2022

Skwawkbox is attempting to reach Ms Abbott for comment.

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