Diane Abbott has transformed Labour's Leadership election into a proper contest. Her declaration on BBC Radio 4 galvanised the listening public and rendered her interviewer momentarily speechless. I had the privilege in 1987 of helping organise her campaign in the Brownswood Ward of Hackney North and Stoke Newington - a modest contribution to the election of Britain's first black woman MP.
She has a rare political talent - an ability to connect to people, understand their concerns and articulate them as their elected representative. I applauded the Miliband brothers for agreeing to differ and both run for election - guaranteeing an election, not a coronation. So I applaud Diane for electrifying the debate with the promise of diversity - both gender and ethnicity. Left-winger John McDonnell's declaration earlier this week brought the promise of a wider range of political views. How long that lasts may depend on the race for the necessary 33 nominations.
The Labour Party's Procedures Committee meets today to reconsider the rules including a controversial decision (opposed at the NEC by Christine Shawcoft and myself from the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance) to impose a 27 May deadline for nominations by Labour MPs. Pressure is mounting for an extension. My reading of the Rules is that should be until end July enabling any declared candidate to take part in hustings.