Diane Abbott

Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British politician. Abbott was born and raised in London. Her parents were Jamaican immigrants. She is now the Member of Parliament for the Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency in London, UK. She was fortunate to be the first black woman to be elected to the House of Commons when she was elected in the 1987 General Election.^[2] In 2010, Abbott became Shadow Public Health Minister after unsuccessfully standing for election as leader of the Labour Party.^[3][4][5] Abbott was made Shadow Home Secretary by Jeremy Corbyn in October 2016.

The Right Honourable Diane Abbott MP
Official portrait, 2017
Mother of the House
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 July 2024
Preceded by	Harriet Harman
Shadow Home Secretary
In office 6 October 2016 – 4 April 2020[a]
Leader	Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by	Andy Burnham
Succeeded by	Nick Thomas-Symonds
Shadow Secretary of State for Health
In office 27 June 2016 – 6 October 2016
Leader	Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by	Heidi Alexander
Succeeded by	Jonathan Ashworth
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
In office 13 September 2015 – 27 June 2016
Leader	Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by	Mary Creagh
Succeeded by	Kate Osamor
Shadow Minister for Public Health
In office 9 October 2010 – 8 October 2013
Leader	Ed Miliband
Preceded by	Anne Milton
Succeeded by	Luciana Berger
Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 June 1987
Preceded by	Ernie Roberts
Majority	15,090 (36.9%)
Personal details
Born	Diane Julie Abbott (1953-09-27) 27 September 1953 (age 72) Paddington, London, England
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	David Ayensu-Thompson ​ ​ (m. 1991; div. 1993)​
Children	1
Education	Newnham College, Cambridge (BA)
Website	dianeabbott.org.uk

She attended Newnham College, Cambridge.^[6]

Abbott is a frequent public speaker,^[7] newspaper contributor^[8] and TV performer. She has been on many programmes such as Have I Got News For You, Celebrity Come Dine with Me,^[9] Cash in the Celebrity Attic.^[10]

Notes

1. On leave 7–18 June 2017, with Lyn Brown serving as acting shadow home secretary