Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Bellavia Janet Ribeiro-Addy (born 1985) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Streatham since the 2019 general election.[1][2] She considers herself a "life-long socialist" and a feminist.[3]

This British surname is barrelled, being made up of multiple names. It should be written as Ribeiro-Addy, not Addy.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

MP
Shadow Minister for Immigration
In office
24 January 2020 – 9 April 2020
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byAfzal Khan
Succeeded byHolly Lynch
Member of Parliament
for Streatham
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byChuka Umunna
Majority17,690 (31.3%)
Personal details
Born
Bellavia Janet Ribeiro-Addy

1985
Streatham, London
Political partyLabour
Alma materUniversity of Bradford (BSc)
Queen Mary University of London (MA)
BPP Law School (GDL)

Early life

Ribeiro-Addy was born and raised in Streatham, growing up on a council estate on Brixton Hill. She is Christian and of Ghanaian descent.[3][4]

Privately educated at the independent Streatham and Clapham High School, Ribeiro-Addy graduated as a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science with Ethics & Philosophy of Science from the University of Bradford later gaining a Master of Arts in Medical Law & Ethics at Queen Mary University of London, awarded in 2007, and a Graduate Diploma in Law at BPP Law School, awarded in 2015. She was the National Black Students' Officer for the National Union of Students (NUS) from 2008 to 2010, national co-ordinator of the Student Assembly Against Racism, and the national convenor of the NUS' Anti-Racism/Anti-Fascism campaign.[5]

In 2010, the Durham Union Society was forced to cancel a debate on multiculturalism on safety grounds, after the NUS Black Students Officer (Ribeiro-Addy) and LGBT+ Officer (Daf Adley) sent a letter to the Union, Durham University and Durham Students Union in opposition to inviting then far-right BNP MEP Andrew Brons to speak on campus. The letter warned of a "colossal demonstration" if the debate went ahead. It went on to say "If any students are hurt in and around this event, responsibility will lie with you.”

Political career

Before becoming an MP, Ribeiro-Addy was chief of staff to former Labour frontbencher Diane Abbott.[6]

Bell also sits as a school governor at Saint Gabriel's College, Camberwell. She was the elected as the Labour MP for Streatham in 2019 with a majority of 17,690, reduced by over 8,000.

Ribeiro-Addy is Co-chairperson of Labour's left-wing Socialist Campaign Group and has challenged the role of the media in devaluing black female MPs, particularly regarding recent BBC Parliament subtitling errors.[7]

Ribeiro-Addy in her maiden speech called for some form of reparations to former colonial subjects.[8]

In one of her first news interviews as an MP, Ribeiro-Addy called for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ghana, stating that “[it is my duty to make sure all people are free, and not discriminated against.]”[9]

In January 2020, Ribeiro-Addy was appointed as Shadow Minister for Immigration, just weeks after her election as a member of parliament. She was not retained in the role following the election of Keir Starmer as Labour Leader.[10]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ribeiro-Addy called on the government to release people held in immigration detention centres.[11]

References
  1. "Streatham constituency results 2019: Labour's Bell Ribeiro-Addy wins". Evening Standard. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. "Streatham election results in full: Labour's Bell Ribeiro-Addy gains seat". SW Londoner. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  3. "Local left candidate squares off Nov. 2 in Streatham V. two councillors from Blairite-dominated Lambeth". Skwawkbox. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  4. "UK elections: Two Ghanaian women win seats for Labour". The Ghana Report. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. "Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  6. "Streatham election results: Ribeiro-Addy makes shocking N-word admission". South West Londoner. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  7. "Black MP caption mistakes 'show lack of respect'". BBC News. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  8. Shah, Hasit. "What the UK owes in reparations". Quartz. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  9. https://www.theghanareport.com/homosexuality-allow-people-to-do-what-they-want-british-mp-of-ghanaian-descent/
  10. "Bell Ribeiro-Addy appointed as shadow immigration minister". Voice Online. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  11. Lizzie Dearden Home Affairs Correspondent @lizziedearden (1 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Immigration detainees must be released to stop spread of virus, Labour says". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Chuka Umunna		 Member of Parliament for Streatham
2019–present		 Incumbent
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