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Diane Abbott speech; ENGLAND: London: Elephant and Castle Leisure Centre:INTDiane Abbott MP (Labour) speech SOT (wearing ‘Angela Davis’ t-shirt).- ‘Diane Abbott, Member of Parliament Hackney North and Stoke Newington’… I come to answer comrade who complains about distress that before general election the media was dominated by the Sharon Atkin affair rather than Labour Party policies, he should address his complaints not to the Black Sections but to to the four Birmingham MPs who sent the offensive letter, to those people who thought axing a Black MP was a vote winner, to those people who feel expulsions are the answer to political arguments- London Labour Party not perfect, I have worked for Ken Livingstone and Linda Bellos… the attacks on the London Labour Party are usually coded attacks on our policies on race, feminism, gay and lesbian rights, veiled attacks, not honest, we must beware of trap of debating around our opponents’ agenda- We need much more involvement by Black people and women in policy making… I defend our policies, based on principle and socialism, would be a great mistake to look for scapegoats, purges- I’ve been in London Labour for 10 years, I’m proud of and will defend our policies on race and I hope everyone here will as wellAbbott departing stage143655 / RUSHES 1447