Labour MP pays tribute to new Mother of the House Diane Abbott: ‘We stand on your shoulders’

Labour MP Florence Eshalomi, who spoke as the seconder during Wednesday’s King’s Speech debate, paid tribute to new Mother of the House Diane Abbott.

Eshalomi, the MP Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, described Abbott as a “fitting replacement” for her predecessor in the role, Harriet Harman.

Eshalomi said: “I cannot think of a more fitting replacement, as the Mother of the House, than my good friend, our aunty, the right honourable member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington [Diane Abbott].

“She was elected when I was just six years old and seeing her in the media, making the voice of black womanhood heard in parliament, gave me the confidence that I could stand here and make sure that people in my community could have a voice in the decisions that impact them.”

She added: “We stand on your shoulders and we respect and salute you. Thank you.”

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