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Diane Abbott: A Woman Like Me

Thu 12 Sep 2024, 7.30pm

Diane Abbott, who made history as Britain’s first Black woman MP, talks to Afua Hirsch about her new memoir telling the story of our nation through her eyes.

More details for Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tickets from £15.00 View more time and price information
Run time 1 hour and 30 minutes (approx)
Dates & tickets

From challenging expectations as a bright and restless child of the Windrush generation to making history as the first elected Black female MP in the UK, Diane Abbott has had her share of barriers to break down.

A Woman Like Me takes readers through Abbott’s incredible journey, painting a vivid picture of growing up in 1960s North London with her working-class Jamaican parents, before entering the hallowed halls of Cambridge University to study history.

Ever since the day she first walked through the House of Commons as the first Black woman MP, she has been a fearless and vocal champion for the causes that have made Britain what it is today, whether it’s increasing access to education for Black children and speaking out against the Iraq war, or advocating tirelessly for refugees and immigrants.

A unique figure in British public life, Abbott has often had nothing but the courage of her convictions to carry her through incredibly hostile environments, from torrential abuse in the mainstream media and on social media, to being shunned by the political establishment, including by her own party.

Written with frankness and wry humour, A Woman Like Me is an inspirational account that celebrates how one woman succeeded against massive odds and built an extraordinary legacy.

Diane Abbott was born in London in 1953, to parents who were part of the Windrush generation. She has been the Member of Parliament for Hackney and Stoke Newington for more than 35 years. The first Black woman elected to Parliament, she is also the longest-serving Black MP in the House of Commons.

She is the founder of several initiatives, including London Schools and the Black Child, and Black Women Mean Business. For 12 years, she appeared as a regular contributor on the BBC’s political digest show This Week. A Woman Like Me is her first book.

Presented in association with the Black British Book Festival

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 14+
Event information

Copies of A Woman Like Me are available to purchase as an optional add-on for £18 (RRP £25) when you buy a ticket to the talk. The book must be collected on the night of the event, as we’re unable to distribute copies afterwards.

Schools can purchase tickets for this event for £5 per ticket. School group tickets can only be booked by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 020 3879 9555. For more information and support, email [email protected]

Times & tickets

Dates, times and prices

Dates & times

12 Sep 2024, 7.30pm

Run time

1 hour and 30 minutes (approx)

All timings are approximate and subject to change

Standard entry

from £15.00*

* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.

Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.

Concessions

25%

Limited availability

About concessions
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Access

Access events

The performance on Thursday 12 September at 7.30pm is Speech to text Book now

This event is Speech-to-Text transcribed (STT).

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For your visit

This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.

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The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.

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We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.

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Food & drink

Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to our glass-fronted Concrete Cafe, the ideal spot to recharge, or catch up with friends, whilst the bustle of Central London and the River Thames carries on around you.

From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.

Other places to eat and drink whilst you’re here