Diane Abbott speaks for first time as Mother of the House

Diane Abbott expressed her enthusiasm for the increasing presence of female MPs as she assumed her new role as Mother of the House. This comes after a period of uncertainty within the Labour party surrounding her reselection.

The woman MP who has served the longest without a break receives the title.

Ms Abbott, who is 70 years old, won her first election in June 1987 and made history as the first black woman to be elected to the House of Commons.

The representative for Hackney North and Stoke Newington from the Labour Party was seated in the first row of seats in the House of Commons. They were positioned opposite the Government frontbench, where Sir Keir Starmer and his Cabinet were seated.

When speaking as the Mother of the House for the first time, she praised the new Members of Parliament and encouraged them by saying, "You are embarking on a wonderful journey and will never regret being here."

I want to give a big shout-out to the House officers for putting together such a well-organized and thoughtful induction process. Back when I was a new MP, all they did was hand me a set of keys and send me on my way.

She continued, "Back in 1987, there were only 40 women serving as Members of Parliament when I first joined. Fast forward to today, we now have 264 women in Parliament and many of us are grateful to witness this progress."

And I must mention the growing number of female members of Parliament, thanks to the efforts of my predecessor Baroness Harriet Harman who worked tirelessly to create a more equal and diverse Parliament.

"We are headed towards challenging times ahead, and historically, this institution has had a significant impact on events both at home and abroad. I am confident that this will continue in the future, under the leadership of the incoming Speaker."

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and the former Prime Minister and Conservative leader, Rishi Sunak, were among the Members of Parliament who praised Ms Abbott.

In his speech to Parliament, Mr Sunak acknowledged that while there may be disagreements on certain policies, it is undeniable that the individual being referenced has played a significant role in Parliament. He also noted the influence and inspiration she has provided to many young women of color.

Ms Abbott is truly a pioneering individual in every way possible.

In his talk, Sir Keir mentioned that he would do something a little different to honor his fellow Labour member Ms Abbott.

The Prime Minister stated that she has worked tirelessly throughout her career to advocate for a Parliament that accurately reflects contemporary Britain.

"We are glad to have her return to her home," he said.

As the General Election campaign began, Ms Abbott was unsure about her continued role as the Labour candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

Some news articles claimed she was offered a peerage to step aside for a new Labour candidate in a secure seat, but she denied this.

During the last Parliament, Ms. Abbott lost her position in the Labour party after she made comments suggesting that Jewish, Irish, and Traveller individuals face prejudice, but not racism. This led to a lengthy process where she served as an independent Member of Parliament.

The whip was reinstated before Parliament adjourned, but there were rumors that she might be disqualified from representing the party in the upcoming General Election.