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2017 Diane Abbott–David Davis controversy

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The MPs involved
Diane Abbott
Diane Abbott, then Shadow Home Secretary
David Davis, then Shadow Brexit Secretary

In February 2017, a political controversy emerged in the United Kingdom involving the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Diane Abbott and Conservative MP David Davis.[1] It emerged following reports of an incident involving the two in a parliament bar. Whether or not the alleged interaction had been a whisper or kiss was speculated in the media. Reactions included discussions on sexism in parliament as well as the political implications on Brexit.

Background and context

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Diane Abbott and David Davis were both elected to the House of Commons in the 1987 general election. Abbott represents the Central London constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington while Davis represented Haltemprice and Howden, a rural constituency in the East Riding of Yorkshire.[2] Both MPs voted against the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 and in 2008, Abbott made an award-winning speech in parliament on civil liberties which Davis praised as "one of the finest I have heard since being elected to the House of Commons".[3]

In the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum resulted in 51.9% of the votes being in favour of Brexit. Abbott voted remain while Davis voted leave. Following the referendum Abbott was appointed Shadow Home Secretary and Davis was appointed Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. The referendum had divided the two parties on Brexit, particularly Labour MPs who had triggered a snap leadership election in late 2016.[4]

Abbott voted for the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 “as a loyal supporter of Jeremy Corbyn".[5] Abbotts position on Brexit had been under scrutiny after missing a previous vote.[6] A week previously she had been taken ill.[7] She voted for the triggering of Article 50.[8] She did so while opposing the "Hard Brexit" proposed by then-Prime Minister Theresa May.[9] Abbott had been under pressure by local Liberal Democrats to vote against due to the fact 78% of electors in the London Borough of Hackney voted remain.[10] The vote passed by 498 to 114 with a large majority of 384.[11]

Controversy

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The day following the Article 50 vote on 8 February, reports emerged that David Davis had attempted to kiss Diane Abbott in the Strangers' Bar in the Palace of Westminster, who had reportedly told him to "f*** off".[12] Davis had allegedly greeted a group Abbott was with as he passed which included Baroness Shami Chakrabarti.[13] Davis had been seen by journalists who alleged he had been leaning in for a kiss when Abbott recoiled before he walked off laughing.[14] Some sources alleged that Davis appeared to attempt a light-hearted embrace with Abbott to thank her for the support in the vote, while other alleged it looked more like an attempted advance suggesting the interaction was more like an “air kiss”.[15] A spokesman for Davis said that he respected Abbott and had been joking.[16]

The scandal developed when private text messages allegedly sent by Davis were leaked to The Mail on Sunday.[17] Davis said that he had whispered "thank you for the vote" referencing the three line whip on the Brexit legislation, and that he would not attempt to hug or kiss Abbott because he is "not blind". He then made an apparent reference to a Specsavers advert.[18]

Chuka Umunna called for Davis to apologise.[19] Davis apologised to Abbott;[20] but was accused of sexism.[21] Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales Shami Chakrabarti, who had witnessed the incident, appeared on Peston on Sunday and said "I think David Davis has been very silly. He was sexist and he was patronising".[22] Abbott revealed she had received rape and death threats following the incident.[23]

Reactions

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Stella Creasy branded the behaviour “sexual harassment" and Emily Thornberry compared Davis to Donald Trump.[24]Jess Phillips said Davis was “probably drunk on Brexit smugness" adding “he wouldn’t do it to David Cameron or George Osborne, so he shouldn’t do it to Diane. It’s unacceptable".[13]

The incident was debated on The Wright Stuff between MP Dawn Butler and Christine Hamilton.[25] Abbott was defended by Stephen Bush for New Statesman writing in defence of her rebuffing.[26] Skylar Baker-Jordan wrote in HuffPost that Abbott had been a victim of misogynoir.[27]

In the context of Brexit, the controversy was overshadowed by the resignations of Rachael Maskell and Dawn Butler from the Shadow Cabinet ahead of Article 50 vote.[28] They had done so in protest of Jeremy Corbyns three line whip.[29] They were followed by Clive Lewis who was one of 50 MPs to defy the Labour whip on a later vote.[30]

In August 2017, the former chief of staff at the Brexit Department claimed he had witnessed Davis being "drunk, bullying and inappropriate".[31]

References

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  1. ^ Hughes, Laura (2017-02-12). "David Davis in sexism storm after denying he tried to kiss Diane Abbott following Brexit vote". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  2. ^ "Rt Hon David Davis MP is awarded a Knighthood". Goole and Pocklington. 2024-01-04. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  3. ^ "Diane Abbott: Trailblazing MP to thorn in Labour's side". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  4. ^ "Brexit: Labour rebellion on Jeremy Corbyn's Article 50 stance grows". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  5. ^ "Diane Abbott Explains Why She Voted For Brexit". HuffPost UK. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  6. ^ Syal, Rajeev (2017-02-02). "Diane Abbott accused by Labour MP of 'bottling' article 50 vote". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  7. ^ Austin, Henry (1 February 2017). "Diane Abbott misses historic Brexit vote because she was 'taken ill'". The Independent.
  8. ^ "Diane Abbott votes for Article 50 after missing previous vote due to 'migraine'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  9. ^ Abbott, Diane (9 February 2017). "Statement on Article 50 vote". www.dianeabbott.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  10. ^ "Lib Dems pressure Diane Abbott to vote against triggering Article 50". Hackney Citizen. 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  11. ^ "Find out if your MP voted for Brexit". The Independent. 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  12. ^ "David Davis tried to kiss Diane Abbott and she told him to f*ck off". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2024-09-07. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  13. ^ a b Murphy, Joe; Proctor, Kate (2017-02-09). "Diane Abbott unleashes four-letter volley after Brexit Minister 'kiss'". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  14. ^ Smith, Mikey (2017-02-09). "Tory David Davis 'leaned in to kiss' Diane Abbott. She told him to 'f**k off'". The Mirror. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  15. ^ "Diane Abbott Told David Davis 'To F*ck Off' After Brexit Bill Vote". HuffPost UK. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  16. ^ "Brexit Secretary `sorry´ over `Diane Abbott kiss´ text exchange". The Herald. 2017-02-12. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  17. ^ Green, Chris (2017-02-12). "David Davis sent 'sexist' and 'appalling' texts about Diane Abbott". The i Paper. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  18. ^ "Brexit Secretary David Davis 'very sorry' for Diane Abbott jibe". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  19. ^ "Labour MP calls for David Davis to apologise over Diane Abbott jibe". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  20. ^ "Brexit Secretary 'Sorry' Over 'Diane Abbott Kiss' Text Exchange". HuffPost UK. 2017-02-12. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  21. ^ "David Davis criticised for 'sexist' Diane Abbott text". BBC News. 2017-02-12. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  22. ^ "David Davis was 'very silly, sexist and patronising' over Abbott". ITV News. 12 February 2017.
  23. ^ McCann, Kate (2017-02-15). "Labour MP Diane Abbott: I get rape and death threats on a regular basis". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  24. ^ "David Davis branded 'disgusting' by Labour MPs over leaked texts". The Independent. 2017-02-12. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  25. ^ Jeremy Vine & Storm Huntley on 5 (2017-02-13). Panel get heated over David Davis/Diane Abbott kiss/whisper incident (Video). Retrieved 2025-01-05 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Dyson, Stephen Benedict (2015-11-01), "Bush takes charge", Leaders in conflict, Manchester University Press, ISBN 978-1-5261-0249-2, retrieved 2025-01-05
  27. ^ "In Defence Of Diane Abbott". HuffPost UK. 2017-02-19. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  28. ^ Cowburn, Ashley (1 February 2017). "Rachael Maskell and Dawn Butler resign from Labour's Shadow Cabinet ahead of Article 50 vote". The Independent.
  29. ^ "Two Labour MPs resign from shadow cabinet over Article 50 bill". Metro. 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  30. ^ McCann, Kate; Swinford, Steven (2017-02-08). "Labour in crisis as Clive Lewis quits shadow cabinet and more than 50 MPs vote against triggering formal Brexit negotiations". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  31. ^ "David Davis's aide in extraordinary attack on 'drunk, bullying' Brexit chief". The Independent. 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
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