Diane Abbott to be Labour Leader...

[don4l]

Ahh bless.

Diane Abbott has just thrown her hat into the ring live on Radio 4. To say that the interviewer was surprised would be an understatement! He was completely stumped for a few seconds.

So, would this mean that Michael Portillo would be pulling the strings from behind the scenes?


Don
--

[hornetrider]

Are you taking the piss?!

[don4l]

hornetrider said:

Are you taking the piss?!

No, I'm not. It's bloody hailarious.

They were interviewing her about the other contenders when she dropped the bombshell.

Funny thing is that the Today programme is always trying to make, rather than report, the news. When they got handed this little gem the interviewer didn't know what to make of it. I think that he thought that she was taking the piss.

If Portillo was listening, I bet he did an enormous facepalm.



Don
--

[Tycho]

hornetrider said:

Are you taking the piss?!

Being reported on Sky News at the moment. She is a bloody joke.

[Swilly]

Well you need to have a spread of candidates to fool the labour MPs, unions and other leadership electors that it is not a done deal

[don4l]

Breaking news...

Alastair Darling has just failed to throw his weight behind her.


How long before she realises her mistake?

I've just realised that it's Thursday. Is she on the telly with Neil and Portillo tonight? I can just imagine the green room chat before the show. I reckon that they will advise her to back out gently.

I'm still chuckling.

Don
--

[FasterFreddy]

Bloody hell, it's really true!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8693687.stm

More bizarre than the Olympic mascots!

[5unny]

She's clever enough to know she can't win so maybe this is a ploy to split some of the other votes. Abbott was a staunch Brownite so one would presume she is backing Balls in this race. Would her running take votes away from Milliband(s)?

[Marf]

don4l said:

Diane Abbott to enter race to be Labour Leader...

Slight correction there. Wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea would we.

[don4l]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Some people may have wanted a female candidate. She is probably the only one who hasn't been tarnished in the expenses scandal... yet!

Being black is also an advantage. Being bright would be another plus point, but somebody seems to have overlooked this.


Don
--

[5unny]

She is on radio 5 now saying the other candidates are too anti-immigration so she's running to give an alternative view.

[MX7]

It's almost as odd as Lembit Opik doing standup.

don4l said:

Some people may have wanted a female candidate.

I was hoping for Yvette Cooper. A husband/wife brother/brother contest would be good.

[BruceV8]

Sweet Jesus, please let her win. Pleeeeease!

[Dr Phibes]

Nicky Campbell did a little sex wee live on air he was so happy that a black female had put her hat in the ring, how lovely and inclusive he thought, R5 breakfast really is a little social engineered lefty bubble.

[Somewhatfoolish]

I think she may have a chance, leadership elections always throw up surprises. I got 100/1 on Paddy Power when she said it, since reduced to 20/1.

[Bing o]

[john_p]

Everyone make sure you fill out the LabourList survey for a new leader!

Vote for whoever will cause maximum strife in the party, obviously. I suggest a vote for Diane Abbot just to mix it up a bit.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FYPJ22J
(copy and paste into new tab to prevent PH-referrals being thrown out)

[joe_90]

I have seen her on that late night tv program she does, and she is just useless and full of waffle, no substance what so ever.

[Oakey]

FasterFreddy said:

Bloody hell, it's really true!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8693687.stm

More bizarre than the Olympic mascots!

BBC Article said:

The Londoner told the BBC her bid was "serious", saying there was little between the other candidates, who "all look the same".

Racist

[Mazda Baiter]

She makes Joey Deacon look like a member of MENSA.

This could be good for the country though. It could be the nail in the coffin for the Labour party if she were to win.

What's the betting that Harperson backs her?