Diane Abbott set to take up 'Mother of the House' role in Parliament

Diane Abbott is set to take up one of the most esteemed positions in the House of Commons after retaking her seat of Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

Ms Abbott will become Mother of the House in the new parliament, a role given to the longest continuously serving female member of parliament. The previous holder was Harriet Harman, who stepped down at this election.

Early on in the election campaign it seemed that Ms Abbott would not be returning to the Commons, after briefings suggested she would not be readmitted to the Labour fold. Ms Abbott had the Labour whip withdrawn in April 2023 after writing a letter that was deemed anti-Semitic.

But by securing Labour’s endorsement and winning the seat with a majority of over 15,000 votes, Ms Abbott has secured her place as the longest serving woman in parliament.

Ms Abbott’s election to Parliament in 1987 was historic as she was the first black woman to win a seat in the House of Commons.

The mirror role of Father of the House goes to the longest continuously serving male MP. Some thought Jeremy Corbyn, Ms Abbott’s long-term political ally who re-took his seat of Islington North as an independent on Thursday night, might be afforded the role. However, Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh will have the honour.

While Mr Corbyn and Sir Edward both entered the Commons at the 1983 election, Sir Edward pips Mr Corbyn because he was sworn in as a member before him. Sir Edward was 20 places ahead of Mr Corbyn in the queue for the Commons’ swearing in ceremony at the beginning of the 1983 parliament.

Had history been slightly different, Mr Corbyn would now be serving alongside Ms Abbott as one of the parents of the House.