Diane Abbot

[number8]

Disgusting hypocrite or good mother looking out for her child? Personally, I feel she has a perfect right to send her child to a fee paying school BUT, having criticised Harmon, B Liar and all other people who choose to send their kids to fee paying/selective schools, she must stand up and publicy admit she was wrong - otherwise she must practice what she preaches.

[sft42]

Of course she's a total hypocrite like the vast majority of politicians.....isn't it amazing that they are just waking up to the fact that the public at large are totally sick of the whole westminster merry go round and the load of them jumping on the gravy train and then they have the audacity to outcast the few politiacians who actually stick to their guns Ken Livingstone and George Galloway spring to mind.....Perhaps they would like to follow the example of one notorious MSP who donates, as a matter of public record, roughly 50% of his stipend to charities?

[David H]

The trouble is, class and reality beat ideology most of the time. Middle class families frequently assume private education is essential for their families however supposedly left wing they claim to be. I'm not sure myself, having tried both, as if I wanted to work I could have done well or not in both. But the kids in private school come from educated backgrounds and are pushed by their parents and teachers to get the best out of them. But I don't believe the teaching is any better in private schools, some state schools get fantastic results though not as many. It does mean, though, labour ought to drop the whole attitude against selective education, including grammar schools, if enough of their own mp's don't follow it. Why should they preach what they believe to be second best? I know someone who decided not to stand as a labour councillor when his son went to private school as he was honest about it.

[darth vader]

Darth Vader - middle class, living in middle class area, Labour voter (though don't count on me next election unless i get a good answer to the question "Iraq - why?") son #1 in local state comprehensive school, son #2 will go to state primary school. It can be done....

[darth vader]

oh, and my vote = hypocrite. (but not a disgusting one - a bit harsh a word)

[joy2]

I sympathise with Ms. Abbot on this issue - but she should have been less forthright when speaking about others. She mentioned as a black mother, other black mothers would understand. I live in the same constituency as Ms. Abbot so I understand what her fears/misgivings might be. I am fighting to get my daughter into a good secondary school and would definately consider her going private. Sad, isn't it?

[treaclefight]

it is a decision that is hard to take, but she was already a mother when she criticised the bl;airs for their education decisons, equally so when she criticised harriet harman for doing the same thing. it cant have demanded that much foresight to know she would face the same deicsions, if she was so certain then, why not now? diane abbot has chosen her occupation, she's fought an election to get it, she must have realised that public life would restrict her choices. i admire diane abbot as a working mother full of drive and determination and i dont doubt that she is a good mother and many other things, but at the same time as all this, she has been a hypocrite. publicly. i'm glad she's not denying it.

[number8]

Suzanne Moore wrote a very good piece in the Mail on Sunday (Diane Abbot is her MP) yesterday, basically saying Abbot should be deselected as apparently part of her election spiel in her constituency was condemning people who paid for education and that the local schools should be supported - and then two pages on Abbot tries to justify her actions. For an intelligent woman her justification was weak and pathetic - she was obviously trying to convince herself. This is by far the worst case of "do as I say not as I do" that I have ever encountered - I hope her constituents feel the same and do not return her at the next general election.

[Miss Zippy]

It is a shame that these MPs are opting out of the very system they are trying so hard to improve and promote. By doing this, they are sending out a clear message that the state system "isn't good enough". They expect other so called "middle class" (whatever that is these days) parents to take an active part in the running of their childrens' state school in order to help raise standards, but can't be bothered to do this themselves.

[bazwillrun]

typical scummy politician, do as i say not as i do. Dont forget the main criteria for a politicians job are being a total hypocrite, pathalogical and consumate liar. Take a look back at her loony left P.C days, my shes changer her views !!!