LONDON - (Labour Buzz) It is often an overused phrase. “History was made today,” but in the House of Commons this lunchtime that phrase was genuinely appropriate. Today, shadow Home Secretary, Diane Abbott stood in for Jeremy Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions. The first person of colour to speak at the dispatch box representing their party during PMQs is groundbreaking and a demonstration that with the Labour Party anyone can reach the top.

Of course, Boris Johnson was absent. Parliament had refused a three-day recess and yet the Prime Minister was attending the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. It meant that his deputy Dominic Rabb would substitute for the Prime Minister. Many Conservative MPs were away from the House of Commons. It is convention that in the absence of the Prime Minister, a senior shadow cabinet member represents the Leader of the Opposition.

The United Kingdom is expected to leave the European Union on October 31t. But, the House of Commons passed the so-called ‘Benn Act’ compelling the Prime Minister to seek an extension to article 50 if a deal is not achieved. The government has promised to obey the law but is determined that we will leave the EU on October 31.

Abbott challenged Rabb over the government’s shambolic handling of the Brexit negotiations and the use of appropriate language in discussions around Brexit. Highlighting the abusive messages and death threats that many women MPs have received, including messages containing phrases used by the Prime Minister. She called on the First Secretary to apologise for the government, which was not received.

Rabb generously paid tribute to Diane, stating, “it is fitting in black history month as the Right Honorable Lady becomes the first black MP to take to the dispatch box for PMQs, to say that she has blazed the rail and made it easier for others to follow in her footsteps.”

Abbott challenged Rabb to remove the rape clause on Universal Credit applications. The requirement means that women who are rape victims are required to fill out significant forms in order to receive Universal Credit. Labour is committed to abolishing Universal Credit. Rabb refused to remove the clause and attacked Labour for seeking to abolish the system, which many charities have counted as inhumane and unfair.

The question of the collapse of Thomas Cook also arose. Abbott criticised the government for failing to meet with workers being made redundant. Highlighting the fact that the Secretary of State for Business has said “it was not her job” to meet with Thomas Cook. It was an astonishing revelation as to the nature of this government that they were not prepared to intervene to support an important tourism industry and save jobs.

Diane Abbott was first elected to the House of Commons in 1987. As the first female MP of colour, Diane has consistently championed the rights of ethnic minority communities, including fighting against racism; she has suffered huge online abuse, including racist abuse and threats of violence. In 2015 Diane supported Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party and has served as Shadow Home Secretary since his election victory.

(Written by Brendan Chilton, edited by Michael O'Sullivan)

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