Standing out is not always a plus!

Are we ‘seriously’ to believe that no-one in Labour’s 258 strong MPs [aside of David Lammy] thinks that Diane Abbott is a worthy candidate for the Labour party leadership contest!? Could it be that she might make such a good prospective candidate that the whole parliamentary party is conspiring in blocking her nomination!?

Well, she is definitely very popular with the public and her constituents who have returned her to parliament with double her 2005 majority at a time Labour is very unpopular!

So what gives, why is Ms Abbott such a loser amongst her own party? How come in over 20 years as an elected MP she never once held a front bench post – could the same reasons that kept her from progressing in the party are now keeping her from gaining the nominations she needs to stand for leadership of the party? Could the reason be race, gender, personality a combination or all?

Because, there is a reason, people find it strange that the self styled progressive party can not produce one ‘progressive’ candidate to run for their leadership when all they talked about during their time in government was how the other parties and in particular the Tories were not diverse, inclusive and behind the times.

Furthermore where is loud mouth Ms Harman – where is her imposed equality now!
How can she find it appropriate and necessary to impose an All Women Short list on constituencies and associations but not on the parliamentary party? Or is the first cosmetic and superficial window dressing while the later is deep and serious business and when it comes down to business every man and woman for himself!?

People like Diane [and I am not talking race or gender here] are their own worst enemy. She is unafraid and speaks her mind which makes her a liability as a backbencher and potentially an impossible leader [if she ever gets that far] to work with. These facts also make Harriet Harman a deceiving hypocrite for advising all new comers on both sides of the house to not listen to those who tell them to buckle down and don’t rock the boat. Because the nature of our legislative institution is just that, and unless one intends to continuously be left behind in the shadows they better buckling down and don’t make any waves – being and doing what is expected is the only way to step out of the shadows!