'Misogynistic' online trolls could stop women taking high-profile jobs, says Diane Abbott
GETTY Diane Abbot says online trolls could stop women taking high-profile jobs
The shadow home secretary warned that the "politics of personal destruction" could put women off seeking a role in public life. She warned that sexism towards female MPs is still commonplace after Brexit Secretary Mr Davis appeared to say he would not try to kiss the Labour politician because he is "not blind". Writing in The Guardian, Miss Abbott, who became the first black female MP in 1987, said: "Suppose that someone had told me back then that 30 years on I would be receiving stuff like this: 'Pathetic useless fat black piece of s*** Abbott. Just a piece of pig s*** pond slime who should be f***ing hung (if they could find a tree big enough to take the fat bitch's weight)'.
PA Diane Abbot has hit out at ‘misogynistic’ comments about her by Cabinet minister David Davis
"I think that even the young, fearless Diane Abbott might have paused for thought.
I receive racist and sexist abuse online on a daily basis Diane Abbott - MP
"And this is not an isolated example. I receive racist and sexist abuse online on a daily basis. I have had rape threats, death threats, and am referred to routinely as a bitch and/or n*****, and am sent horrible images on Twitter. The death threats include an EDL-affiliated account with the tag 'burn Diane Abbott'." She said the Article 50 Bill for Brexit in Parliament - when she was absent for the vote on second reading but backed the Government legislation at its final Commons hurdle - was a "perfect storm", including "a crescendo of blatantly racist and sexist abuse online". "Just when I thought the worst was over, there was horrible coverage in a Sunday tabloid of a misogynist text exchange about me sent by a Cabinet minister."
GETTY Diane Abbott became the first black female MP in 1987
Mr Davis reportedly clashed with Miss Abbott in a Commons bar following the vote on his Article 50 Bill, when she told him to "f*** off" after he seemed to lean in to try to embrace her. The Mail on Sunday reported that after the incident a friend texted Mr Davis, saying: "Cannot believe you made an attempt to give DA (Diane Abbott) a hug!" The Cabinet minister replied: "Didn't, but the myth grows. I whispered in her ear 'Thanks for your vote' hence the 'F off'. I am not blind." Miss Abbott said her decision to write about her experiences was not about how she was treated as an individual but a culture which could deter women from entering politics. "Once, the pushback was against the actual arguments for equality and social justice. Now the pushback is the politics of personal destruction.
Diane Abbott's most controversial quotes Mon, February 6, 2017 Outspoken Shadow Home Secretary, Diane Abbott holds strong opinions which does not always go down well. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 11 Being an MP is a good job, the sort of job all working-class parents want for their children -- clean, indoors and no heavy lifting. What could be nicer?