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Back in June, we reported on the effort of Diane Abbott, Britain's first black female member of Parliament, to get on the ballot for leadership of the Labour Pary. While some observers scoffed at the prospect that the veteran back-bencher could beat out better financed candidates who had served in previous Labour governments, Abbott did succeed in becoming the only female candidate for Party leader on the ballot. Voting began September 1st and will continue through most of the month under a scheme that accords weight to individual party members, organizations, and MPs. The winner will be announced at the Party's national conference September 26-30.
Under Britain's parliamentary system, the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons becomes the prime minister, so this election is not only a search for someone who can help Labour win back the parliamentary majority -- it's a search for a potential national leader.
It also could be seen as a referendum on the centrist politics that has dominated the Party since the election of former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1997. Once seen as a popular counterpart to former US president Bill Clinton, Blair's support for the US-led invasion of Iraq sharply divided his party and forced him out of his leadership post. Blair's successor, one-time ally Gordon Brown, started with promise but fell into disarray as a result of the global financial crisis, national security threats, and his own gaffes and political mis-steps. Brown stepped down as Labour party leader when none of the major parties won a sufficient majority in the House of Commons to form a government. Despite his hope that his resignation would clear the way for a coalition government between Labour and the Liberal Democratic party, the "Lib Dems" struck a deal with the Conservative party, clearing the way for Tory MP David Cameron to become the new Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, MP Abbott has responded by e-mail to a list of questions about her candidacy, her vision for the Labour Party, and how she would lead Britain were she ever to become Prime Minister. In between the time that these questions were sent to her and our receipt of their response, Blair released a memoir that has renewed the controversy over his leadership. (See the first two links below for more on that.)
Blogher. What's your assessment of how the campaign is going so far? How are you being received? Are you able to bring attention to the issues that you feel are most important?
Abbott: So far the campaign is going better than planned! The support from the public is overwhelming and I cannot be grateful enough. Considering that I do not have nearly as much money to run this campaign compared to other candidates, the support from volunteers has been invaluable.
Blogher: News coverage in the Telegraph and elsewhere has focused on reported infighting among Labour Party leaders. Are you concerned that this fractionalization might make it difficult to unite the Party under one banner once the leadership election is finished?
Abbott: I wouldn’t believe what you read. It’s been an extremely comradely contest and the five of us are getting on well.
Blogher:
