On the Today programme this morning, Diane Abbott explained her surprise candidacy for the leadership of the Labour party thus:

“If not now, when?  And if not me, who?”

This was a very Abbottian remark.  She is better read and has a better ear for language than most MPs.  Politics is all about ideas and communication, so it is bizarre that so few British MPs read books or respect words.  Abbott does both, which is as much to her credit as it is to the rest of their shame.

No surprise, in which case, that her Soundbite for the Day was a literary reference. Slightly more dissonant, though, were the sources. (more…)