Diane Abbott warned Jeremy Corbyn that a new political party would struggle to win under the first-past-the-post electoral system and said she told him not to set one up. Abbott confirmed she will not leave Labour for Corbyn's unnamed party and acknowledged why he proceeded. Abbott described Zarah Sultana as a lively, energetic independent MP and suggested the new party could attract voters disappointed with Labour, including non-leftwing supporters. Abbott holds the honorary title mother of the house and has faced suspensions from Labour related to controversial remarks and a published letter.
There were people around Jeremy encouraging him to set up a new party and I told him not to, she said. It's very difficult under the first-past-the-post system for a new party to absolutely win. If it wasn't first past the post then you can see how a new party could come through, but I understand why he did it.
Abbott described Zarah Sultana, the independent MP launching the new party with Corbyn, as a lovely person who is full of energy. She said the party could get votes and support from people who were not necessarily leftwing but were disappointed about the way [Labour has] gone in the past year. Abbott, who as the longest-serving female MP has the honorary title of mother of the house, is suspended by Labour.
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