Why I’m backing Diane Abbott for leader

By Kelvin Hopkins MP

Diane will re-establish democratic socialism at the heart of the Labour Party, making Labour once again the Party that will fight for millions of ordinary people against inequality and injustice. That is why I nominated Diane, have spoken for her and will vote for her in the election of a new leader for our party.

Labour supporters have had enough of the tweedledee/tweedledum politics so evident since the death of John Smith. The election defeat in May finally killed off New Labour and the last thing we need now is a leader trying to breathe new life into the corpse.

Only Diane has consistently spoken up for and voted for real Labour during those years. She voted against the Iraq War, against extending detention without charge, against privatisation, against benefits cuts and against tuition fees – all policies forced upon a resentful party and against the opposition of millions of voters. Only the fear of the Tories returning kept our supporters loyal and enough of those supporters finally faded away this year to open the door to the Tories once again.

Diane would simply have rolled back Thatcherism and will do so now if she becomes our leader.

The leadership election must be decided on policy and Diane is the only candidate with distinct policies, be it abolishing Trident, renationalising the railways or building hundreds of thousands council houses to house those on our massive waiting lists. Diane will seek to improve employee and trade union rights, taking her lead from the TUC and from John McDonnell’s Trade Union Rights and Freedom Bill. Policies to recreate full employment and uncompromising opposition to Tory cuts will be central to Diane’s programme for office and I believe she would receive the overwhelming support of voters in this strategy.

I am giving my wholehearted support to Diane in this election and urge thousands of party members to do the same.