DIANE ABBOTT’S 1987 CAMPAIGN

The 1987 election campaign was the first time the Labour party had fielded so many Black candidates but yet all of Labour’s marketing material practically featured no Black people.

Diane Abbott and her team saw an opportunity, rather than hiding the fact that she was Black – the preferred option of the Labour's leadership at the time – Abbott told her designers to put her face front and centre, “so no one could be in any doubt” - a bold move.

Although Hackney had been a safe Labour seat, many politicians assumed that white voters would not turn out for Black candidates, and certainly not for Black women.

There were problems with support from her own party. “It was a tricky campaign because some of the white activists wouldn’t work for me,” she says. Consequently, she recruited volunteers from local Black organisations and Jeremy Corbyn sent volunteers to help. Abbott’s election campaign ran “like a military operation to maximise Abbott’s vote”.

The campaign started traditionally enough. Abbott helped judge the cutest baby contest and took part in set-piece debates. However, the campaign soon became chaotic. Abbott’s campaign HQ had its windows smashed by the National Front to protest against her candidacy.

Despite facing challenges and discrimination during her campaign, Abbott's dedication and determination ultimately led to her historic win. She is now both the first Black woman elected to parliament and the longest-serving black MP, to this day.