Help can also hinder.

Even though I hopped that Diane Abbott will have the personal pulling power to collected and receive the required 33 nominations that will allow her to stand for the Labour Party leadership election. What’s more, I find it strange that after 23 years as a member of parliament, Ms Abbott a witty straight shooter who always knew what she wanted – entered this race without knowing before hand if she has the required support to stand for election!

However, if I was Diane Abbott, today I will be very insulted by OBV’s plea. In addition I will be mortified at their suggestion of “Even if those MP’s who nominate Diane went on to publicly vote and support another candidate the political point that race and gender matter would have been made.”

This whole lets do it for blackness sake business and forced gender equality is not helping race relations or gender balancing and it is far more divisive long term – because it says “that lot over there can never make it on their own unless we give them a hand up”. I don’t quite know how people who make it on these bases feel but they can not possibly feel 100% confidant that they made it on merit alone. If that does not defeat the purpose then what does? What minority groups need is equal playing fields and equal opportunities not divisive measures.

I like Diane Abbott; she is funny and speaks her mind [which is probably the reason why she does not have enough friends in the PLP to nominate her] but can’t help wonder, does she feel honored or dishonored by OBV’s plea today?