All articles written by Dawn Butler MP on PoliticsHome.com

Women in Westminster: In Conversation With Dawn Butler MP

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25 Feb Parliament

Women in Westminster: In Conversation With Dawn Butler MP

When first elected in 2005, Dawn Butler became only the third Black woman to become an MP. She has since spoken out about the misogyny and racism she encountered upon entering the Commons. As part of our Women in Westminster series, we sat down with Butler to learn why she believes that society needs to put fairness first

07 Nov 2024 Technology

We must address AI’s potential for bias – or risk automating discrimination

ChatGPT has been a gamechanger in artificial intelligence (AI). The pace of development continues to impress me but also concern me.

27 Mar 2024 Health

MPs diagnosed with cancer: 'If you so much as cough, someone wants your seat'

One felt unsupported by their party; all made every effort to continue working throughout their treatment. Sienna Rodgers speaks to four MPs diagnosed with cancer while serving constituents

14 Mar 2024 Books & culture

Dawn Butler reviews 'Bob Marley: One Love'

A film celebrating the music and creativity of Bob Marley, director Reinaldo Marcus Green also places the role a strong Black woman front and centre of the story

11 Oct 2023 Books & culture

Part memoir, part call to arms: Anne Alexander reviews 'A Purposeful Life'

Dawn Butler’s autobiography is lively, accessible and engaging – and settles a few scores along the way

07 Oct 2023

My manifesto - Dawn Butler

As the next general election approaches, and a government embroiled in corruption and cronyism continues to mishandle crisis after crisis, it is abundantly clear that our country needs innovative and forward-thinking policies to pave the way for a brighter future.

07 Mar 2023 Books & culture

Set to a soundtrack of struggle and protest: Dawn Butler reviews 'Sylvia'

This phenomenal musical depiction of the life of Sylvia Pankhurst will take you on a journey of anger, joy and despair

29 Oct 2022 Communities

Claudia Jones: journalist and political activist

The philosopher Thomas Carlyle suggested history was best understood as the "biography of great men". The House disagrees — and has invited parliamentarians this Black History Month to spotlight inspirational Black women.

28 Mar 2022 Political parties

Labour MP Dawn Butler Announces She Has Been Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

Labour MP Dawn Butler has announced that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2021, but insists she will make a “full recovery” as the cells were at a “very early stage”.

28 Jul 2021 Political parties

Minister Insists British People Have Confidence In Boris Johnson After Accusations of Lying

Therese Coffey has said that the public has “every confidence” in Boris Johnson as Prime Minister despite claims from Labour that he lied in the Commons.

14 Jul 2021 Social affairs

The government’s culture war and war on woke is fuelling racism in Britain

The government’s hypocrisy when it comes to England footballers taking the knee is astounding. Being non-racist is not enough, society will only change for the better if we all become anti-racists and call out racism.

11 Mar 2021 Culture

‘Some of my fellow MPs have made a career out of perpetuating racist tropes’ – Dawn Butler’s review of 'This is Why I Resist’

Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu’s brutally honest examination of white privilege might help some politicians see the error of their ways

18 Jan 2021 Social affairs

Martin Luther King Day: We're still fighting for Black civil rights

The Civil Rights Movement reminds us everyday what happens if we do not fight for equality and the rights of others.

15 Dec 2020 Coronavirus

Lessons from 2020: The Black Lives Matter movement has inspired more Britons to stand up against racism and fight for an equal society

Since the murder of George Floyd, we are all now a bit more comfortable confronting the realities of anti-Black racism

17 Oct 2020 Political parties

The Book That Changed My Life: Blink - The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

In the latest in our series on the books that have influenced or inspired Parliamentarians, Dawn Butler explains how the story of an orchestra audition changed how she percieved other's thoughts

08 Sep 2020 Environment

Exclusive: Dawn Butler Says She Didn't Delete Her Tweet About Extinction Rebellion On Purpose, And She Supports Them

Dawn Butler has doubled down on her support for Extinction Rebellion as she claimed her tweet praising their newspaper protest was removed "accidentally".

12 Aug 2020 Political parties

Met Police blames ‘human error’ for Dawn Butler stop and slams ‘trial by social media’

The Metropolitan Police have blamed “human error” for the decision to pull over Labour MP Dawn Butler’s car, as the force hit out at “trial by social media” of its officers.

10 Aug 2020 Communities

Boris Johnson says police must act with ‘fairness and equality’ after Labour’s Dawn Butler accuses Met of racially profiling her

Boris Johnson has said police must ensure they treat all Brits with “fairness and equality” after Labour’s Dawn Butler claimed she had been a victim of racial profiling.

10 Aug 2020 Communities

Labour’s Dawn Butler accuses Metropolitan Police of racial profiling after she is stopped in east London

Labour’s Dawn Butler has accused police of “obviously racially profiling” her after she was stopped while being driven through east London.

19 Jun 2020 Political parties

WATCH Free school meals u-turn, Priti Patel hits out at 'far-right thugs' and Dawn Butler's racism warning: catch up on the week in Parliament

Catch up on the week in Parliament with our three-minute round-up

18 Jun 2020 Coronavirus

Government needs to get its ‘knee off the neck’ of BAME people and tackle racism, Labour MP urges

Labour MP Dawn Butler has told the Government it must get its “knee off the neck” of the BAME community and take action in the wake of protests against systemic racism.

04 Apr 2020 Political parties

Angela Rayner sees off rivals to become Labour’s new deputy leader

Angela Rayner has been elected the new deputy leader of the Labour Party.

02 Apr 2020 Coronavirus

Labour's Dawn Butler calls for more testing after uncle dies of hospital-acquired coronavirus infection

Labour's Dawn Butler has called for a massive increase in coronavirus testing after her uncle died after contracting the disease in hospital.

09 Mar 2020 Political parties

Dawn Butler MP: 'Talking about racism is absolutely exhausting as a black woman'

For Dawn Butler, running for the deputy leadership has exposed structural barriers that are preventing people like her from progressing. To break through, the Labour frontbencher has released a 23-page manifesto, centred on the party’s membership. She walks Sebastian Whale through her plans

20 Sep 2019 Home affairs

Labour will put equality centre stage by creating a standalone Department for Women and Equalities

The Conservatives have made women and equalities a part-time role – we will not allow Boris Johnson to drive us back further, writes Dawn Butler MP

15 Jul 2019 Home affairs

Theresa May and her Conservative government have been weak, uncaring and institutionally racist - she will not be missed

May Days: It was Theresa May herself who accelerated the appalling “hostile environment” policy, which contributed to the Windrush scandal, writes Dawn Butler

21 Sep 2017 Communities

The PM is not on the side of women and our diverse communities

The Prime Minister may act like she is on the side of women and our diverse communities, but her actions tell another story, writes Dawn Butler