Abbott hits out at Speaker again after not being called to speak at debate ‘mostly about racism and me’

UK

MP Diane Abbott has criticised Speaker Lindsay Hoyle for not calling on her to speak at this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions during a debate on racism.

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said she was “surprised” not to be called to speak, with the debate “mostly about racism and me”.

“Stood over 40 times. Speaker claims he ran out of time,” she said. “Truth is he can make PMQs go on as long as he likes.”

It is the second time the MP, who was suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party last year and sits as an independent MP in the Commons, has hit out at the Speaker over the incident.

“I don’t know whose interests the Speaker thinks he is serving. But it is not the interests of the Commons or democracy,” she said on Wednesday.

It comes after a row which was sparked following comments from Tory donor Frank Hester, who said the MP made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

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