Stuart Lawrence, the brother of Stephen Lawrence, praised the historic moment when David Lammy, the first Black man, took the floor during Prime Minister’s Questions. Stuart, an advocate for racial equality, watched the session from the public gallery and expressed how significant it was for young Black British individuals to witness this event unfold. Stephen Lawrence, Stuart’s older brother, tragically lost his life in a racially motivated attack in 1993 at the age of 18.

David Lammy, who assumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister following Angela Rayner’s resignation in September, acknowledged the trailblazers who had previously spoken at the despatch box, such as the veteran MP Diane Abbott, the first Black woman to participate in PMQs, and Kemi Badenoch, the first Black leader of a major UK political party.

Black MPs celebrated Lammy’s groundbreaking moment. Calvin Bailey, Labour MP for Leyton and Wanstead, emphasized the importance of this event in contrast to the divisive rhetoric seen in some political circles. Dawn Butler, Labour MP for Brent East and the first Black woman to speak as a minister from the despatch box in 2009, commended Lammy for his historic achievement and highlighted the significance of representation in politics for future generations.

Adam Jogee, the Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, echoed the sentiment that representation is crucial for a diverse and inclusive society. He conveyed his well wishes to Lammy for his session and humorously hoped that Lammy wouldn’t upset his fellow parliamentarians while appearing on television.

In a previous instance, Diane Abbott made history by representing her party at Prime Minister’s Questions in 2019, addressing questions to Dominic Raab as the Shadow Home Secretary in the absence of Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.