Hooray for Diane! The Guardian looks at what Abbott’s entry means

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Lots of people are excited by Diane Abbott’s entry to the Labour leadership race, and how it changes the dynamic of the contest.

Today’s G2 has a range of voices speaking in favour of Abbott’s entry to the race – including from those who do not generally support her – casing an interview with the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

Abbott’s declaration yesterday has certainly ignited what could otherwise have become a staid contest. Labour has ceded too much of the change ground to the Tories and Lib Dems. For all sorts of reasons – not just her gender or her race, but her politics, intelligence and boisterous personality – Abbott’s bid will shake the party from any stupor.

Mehdi Hasan writes in G2, ‘Hooray for Diane!’:

“Don’t get me wrong. David Miliband, Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Andy Burnham are all talented candidates. But I can’t pretend I wasn’t disappointed by the glaring lack of diversity on offer in Labour’s first leadership contest for 16 years…Britain has changed. Or so we were repeatedly told by Labour ministers over the last decade. But the party itself may have taken a step backwards. In 1994, Margaret Beckett, the acting Labour leader, stood against Tony Blair and John Prescott for the leadership. This time round, the acting leader Harriet Harman – relentlessly mocked as “Harridan” and “Harperson” by the macho, rightwing press – has ruled herself out.”

But this isn’t just about finally having a woman candidate or a black candidate stand for the leadership, though those things are important. It’s also about challenging the status quo, and not just accepting your place, even within the party. Abbott has effectively said: “I’ve got something to say, I’ve got something to offer, and there can be a role for me, too.” That is what Labour should stand for, and it’s why Abbott’s involvement could change – for the better – not just the nature of this debate after a difficult period, but the nature of what our party stands for in the long term.