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Diane Abbott

Kirsty Young's castaway is politician Diane Abbott.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the MP Diane Abbott. She was the first black woman to become a Member of Parliament and, after her election in 1987, she said she would find herself sitting on the green benches of the House of Commons wondering whether she was really entitled to be there.

It was not the first British institution she'd cracked - she had already propelled herself through Cambridge and then into the Civil Service. But she has not always sat comfortably inside these great bastions of the establishment; she says Gordon Brown booted her off an influential committee because she asked too many questions; she was a vocal opponent of the war in Iraq and she attracted a good deal of controversy when she decided to send her son to private school.

After more than 20 years in the House of Commons, she is, she says, happy for people to judge her on what she has done and what she has stood up for.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Nkosi Sikelel 'Iafrika by Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Book: Volumes of architectural and historical surveys of London
Luxury: A nice bed with comfortable mattress, sheets & mosquito net.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 23 May 2008 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Howard Goodall

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Music Played

  • Harry Belafonte

    Scarlet Ribbons

    • All Greatest Hits Vol.1.
    • RCA.

  • The Beatles

    The Things We Said Today

    • A Hard Day’s Night.
    • Parlophone.

  • The Temptations

    Ain't Too Proud to Beg

    • Temptations: Greatest Hits.
    • Motown.

  • Bob Marley

    Exodus

    • Exodus.
    • Tuff Gong.

  • Buju Banton

    Driver A

    • Too Bad.
    • Gargamel Records.

  • D:Ream

    Things Can Only Get Better

    • D:Ream On Vol 1.
    • FXU.

  • Claude Debussy

    Reflets dans l'eau (from Images)

    Soloist: Paul Roberts

    • Debussy Piano Music Volume 11.
    • Hurstwood Farm Studio.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ladysmith Black Mambazo

      Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika

      • Long Walk to Freedom: Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
      • Heads Up.

  • Book Choice

    • Volumes of architectural and historical surveys of London

  • Luxury Choice

    • A nice bed with comfortable mattress, sheets & mosquito net.

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Diane Abbott

Broadcasts

  • Sun 18 May 2008 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 23 May 2008 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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