The first black woman MP in Britain

Diane Abbott was the first black woman elected to the British Parliament. She won her London seat for the Labour Party in 1987.

In 1987 Diane Abbott became the first black woman elected to the British Parliament. The daughter of first generation immigrants she was one of only four black MPs elected that day. In 2015 Diane Abbott spoke to Farhana Haider about her journey into the political history books.

Photo: Diane Abbott in 1986. Copyright: BBC