By Sam Francis
Political reporter, BBC News
Diane Abbott has accused the Commons Speaker of failing democracy by not allowing her to speak during a debate focused on remarks about her.
Alleged comments by a Tory donor that Ms Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” dominated Wednesday’s half-hour Prime Minister’s Questions.
The MP repeatedly tried to ask the prime minister a question but was not selected.
A spokesperson for the Speaker said he “ran out of time” to call Ms Abbott.
Rishi Sunak repeatedly rejected calls from MPs to pay back £10m in Tory donations from Frank Hester, who reportedly said Ms Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and “should be shot”.
The PM said Mr Hester’s alleged comments were “wrong” and “racist” – but the businessman had apologised and his “remorse should be accepted”.
Ms Abbott was sitting on the opposition benches during the weekly question session, but did not get a chance to speak despite repeated attempts to intervene.
In a social media post afterwards, Ms Abbott said Sir Lyndsay had failed both the Commons and “democracy”.
“I don’t know whose interests the Speaker thinks he is serving,” she added.
MPs enter a ballot to ask a question at PMQs, which is seen as a highlight of the parliamentary week. But the Speaker also has discretion to choose additional MPs, who can rise – or bob – to signal they wish to pose the PM a question.
A spokesperson for the Speaker said: “During Prime Minister’s Questions, the Speaker must select MPs from either side of the House on an alternating basis for fairness.
“This takes place within a limited time frame, with the Chair prioritising members who are already listed on the order paper. This week – as is often the case – there was not enough time to call all members who wanted to ask a question.”
‘Really poor’
Before the debate, Ms Abbott said Mr Hester’s alleged comment that she needed “to be shot” was “frightening”.
Both Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and Stephen Flynn, the SNP Westminster leader, raised Mr Hester’s alleged comments with the prime minister.
Once the debate was finished, Ms Abbott could be seen shaking her head after failing to be called to speak.
Labour MP Charlotte Nichols called the Speaker’s decision “really poor”.
In a social media post, Ms Nichols said: “If Diane wanted to speak, rather than being spoken for and about, she should have been given the opportunity to.”
During the debate, Stella Creasy – another Labour MP – posted on social media that there would be “something very wrong if [Ms Abbott’s] voice isn’t heard today”.
A Labour party spokesman echoed these comments saying after the debate “it would have been good for the House to have been able to hear from” Ms Abbott.
As PMQs finished Sir Keir and Mr Flynn approached Ms Abbott at the back of the chamber, alongside a succession of Labour backbenchers.
During the conversation, Ms Abbott reportedly repeatedly asked Sir Keir to restore her party whip.
He is reported to have responded: “I understand.”
Ms Abbott – who sits as an independent MP after being suspended by Labour – has previously called for “public support from Keir Starmer” in the wake of Mr Hester’s comments.
