Diane Abbott MP

When you take the next step in your career, you are very conscious of having moved forward. Obviously, one was very elated because one was conscious that it was historic.

The positive thing about being an African Caribbean woman MP is that people do remember who you are. The obverse of this is that you can get singled out. Things that a white male MP could do, and nobody would remark on it, if you do it, it becomes a big issue. So you have to be very, very careful in these situations, your personal life and so on. You are very easily singled out.

I think, like most working women, it is very difficult to combine parenthood with any type of job, really. The problem with being an MP is the very long and uncertain hours. You might be here till eleven or twelve, you might finish earlier. So that's been a difficulty.

I think any Black professional who says they haven't experienced racism is lying. It's partly that people tend to pre-judge you. And it's partly that you're not necessarily part of the club, the inner circle. I think that holds true for any profession.

I think that being a Black person has put me outside of the network that you find in any profession. And also, there's the thing that you have to prove yourself in a way that a white male MP doesn't have to.