Diane Abott, Failing Leadership Contender

There's much to enjoy about Diane Abbott's increasingly quixotic bid for the Labour leadership. I think my favourite thing at the moment (at 08:51 on 2/6/10, fact fans) is that she only has one supporter, according to the Labour party's figures. As things stand, she's got more chance of winning the 2012 Democratic nomination for President as she does getting onto the ballot paper in this election.

However, there must be some sort of rule that forbids Labour MPs from nominating themselves until they've got a certain level of support. Because Abbott, unlike nearly every other candidate in this race, has not bothered to nominate herself. Which is why I think there must be a rule. There has to be one. Otherwise, why wouldn't Abbott join Lammy in supporting her campaign? The numbers are so dire that by nominating herself, Abbott could increase her support by 100%. She could double the number of MPs supporting her in one go. Under the circumstances, why wouldn't she want to do that?

Maybe she's just given up. Given how her campaign has gone so far, I could understand that...