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Diane Abbott delivered a speech as ‘Mother of the House’ after being re-elected a London MP despite Labour attempts to bar her from standing for the party at the election.
After Sir Lindsay Hoyle had been re-elected Speaker, Ms Abbott said: “I would like to congratulate the Speaker elect on his election.
“He has been a Speaker through tumultuous times.
“But he has never failed to serve with grace and expertise and fairness.”
She also congratulated the 304 new MPs and told them “it’s a great job” and that they would “never regret coming here”.
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP added: “When I was a new member in 1987 there were only 40 female MPs.
“Today we have 264 and some of us are glad that we have lived to see this.
“I can’t speak about the increased number of female MPs without referencing my predecessor (as Mother of the House) Baroness Harriet Harman who did so much to work to have an equal and diverse House.”
In a sombre note, Ms Abbott then emphasised: “We are going into very tumultuous times and historically this House has played a role in these events both nationally and internationally and I’m sure it will do the same going forward and will be presided over in the excellent way of the Speaker elect.”
Ms Abbott was praised by Sir Keir Starmer as she took up one of the most esteemed positions in the House of Commons after retaking her seat.
Ms Abbott became Mother of the House in the new Parliament, a role given to the longest continuously serving female member of parliament. The previous holder was Harriet Harman, who stepped down at this election.
As MPs sat for the first time in the new Parliament, new Prime Minister Sir Keir “paid tribute to the Mother of the House”.
He added: “She has done so much in her career, over so many years to fight for a Parliament that truely represents modern Britain.
“We welcome her back to her place.”
Rishi Sunak, now leader of the Opposition, said: “We have our differences on policy but no one can deny the right Honourable Lady's in this House and the inspiration for so many young women of colour she has provided.
“The right Honourable Lady is in every sense of the word a trailblazer.”
Early on in the election campaign it seemed that Ms Abbott would not be returning to the Commons, after briefings suggested she would not be readmitted to the Labour fold. Ms Abbott had the Labour whip withdrawn in April 2023 after writing a letter that was deemed anti-Semitic.
But by securing Labour’s endorsement and winning the seat with a majority of over 15,000 votes, Ms Abbott has secured her place as the longest serving woman in parliament.
Ms Abbott’s election to Parliament in 1987 was historic as she was the first black woman to win a seat in the House of Commons.
The mirror role of Father of the House goes to the longest continuously serving male MP. Some thought Jeremy Corbyn, Ms Abbott’s long-term political ally who re-took his seat of Islington North as an independent on Thursday night, might be afforded the role. However, Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh will have the honour.
While Mr Corbyn and Sir Edward both entered the Commons at the 1983 election, Sir Edward pips Mr Corbyn because he was sworn in as a member before him. Sir Edward was 20 places ahead of Mr Corbyn in the queue for the Commons’ swearing in ceremony at the beginning of the 1983 parliament.
Had history been slightly different, Mr Corbyn would now be serving alongside Ms Abbott as one of the parents of the House.
