Diane Abbott

Gun crime is a major cause of fear and distress throughout the UK. The problem is deeply entrenched in a read more

Gun crime is a major cause of fear and distress throughout the UK. The problem is deeply entrenched in a wide range of social and cultural factors and therefore not an isolated issue.

My London constituency in Hackney has one of the highest levels of gun crime in the country. But the problem read more

My London constituency in Hackney has one of the highest levels of gun crime in the country. But the problem is no longer confined to inner city areas. Gun crime has spread to communities all over Britain.

Many young people carrying real or imitation firearms do so in a mistaken attempt to either boost their image, or read more

Many young people carrying real or imitation firearms do so in a mistaken attempt to either boost their image, or from a misguided idea about self-protection. In addition, most London shootings involve members of the black community and are often related to deprivation, gang rivalry or the illegal drug trade.

Whenever I felt like slitting my wrists I used to like listening to depressed singers from the 1970s. It was read more

Whenever I felt like slitting my wrists I used to like listening to depressed singers from the 1970s. It was great music for a misunderstood teenager. And when I'm feeling misunderstood these days, I'll stick on a bit of Leonard Cohen.

You can't defend the indefensible - anything you say sounds self-serving and hypocritical.

You can't defend the indefensible - anything you say sounds self-serving and hypocritical.