Labour Party: Diane Abbott joins leadership race: interview

Labour Party: Diane Abbott joins leadership race: interview; ENGLAND: London: INT Diane Abbott MP (Candidate for Labour leadership) interview SOT - So many people have contacted me…calling on me to run and one of the major concerns is that of the current front runners they all look the same and say the same thing…they're all nice they'll all make great leaders but the labour party wants a much broader range of candidates... - There are issues that unless you broaden the range of candidates will be off the table, no one's talking about…Afghanistan…and immigration I'm a child of immigrants, shouldn't the million of children of immigrants have a voice…civil liberties should be debated…not debating…what the balance should be between taxation and public spending cuts… - The reason I decided to enter was because so many people called on me to run…a sense the Labour movement has changed…in 2010 we need other than nice men in suits running for the leadership…above all it was about the issues…which will simply be off the table and will not be debated. - Well I hope that people will stop thinking that one of the 2 or 3 front runners have locked this race up…and people will nominate other candidates…and we can have an interesting debate…over what will be a long contest. - I think having come out of this election it's a pivotal moment for Labour…I doubled my majority in Hackney I know how to engage with voters…currently...we won't have that debate and that will be unfortunate - I engaged voters by talking to them in terms that they understand…also by starting where they are and addressing their issues…one of our failures…was about affordable housing…and communicating in a way they understand… - I just think currently were having a debate about immigration where the children of immigrants do not have a voice…real issues about the white and black working class and why they feel insecure and why they blame immigration for i...