Labour MP Diane Abbott has accused UK firms of lagging behind their US rivals when it comes to workplace diversity and promoting opportunities for black and ethnic minority groups.

Speaking today (30 January) at an event hosted by Pinsent Masons, Abbott (pictured) also put forward a "practical and business case" for diversity in the UK legal services industry.

"The British service sector cannot expect to compete globally if the only people it has front-facing the world are middle age white men in grey suits," she said, adding that the diversity of UK firms needs to mirror the countries showing the greatest economic growth.

"In the end [the BRICs] are going to want to engage with lawyers, accountant and businesses who look like them and understand their reality," Abbott said.

Abbott also said the principals governing the profession made it incumbent on law firms to champion greater diversity in the workplace.

"To the extent that the law has always been on the front line in terms of rights, obligations and fairness it seems to me that legal firms like this one should take the lead on diversity."

She argued that US law firms had historically been more sensitive on issues of diversity than their British counterparts, and that US State-level contract compliance had been a big push in getting the financial and legal sectors to employ a greater diversity of professionals.

"Among the professional services, the legal professional should be taking the lead on these issues. Diversity isn't just about attending an event or being nice to the black person you find in the office and then forgetting about it."

Abbott singled out recruitment and promotion as important opportunities for law firm senior management to avoid hiring "people who look like themselves".

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, and former Labour leadership contender, said law firms needed to engage more with young people, in particular young men without strong male role models.

"The legal profession has been progressive in many areas of the diversity agenda, perhaps most notably in securing greater equality for the LGBT community," commented former Stonewall Chairman and Pinsents partner David Isaac.

"However, while The Law Society has done much to generate policy and stimulate change there is still a great deal to do to address the challenges facing those from black and minority ethnic communities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, in accessing our own and other professions."

The past week has seen the launch of two diversity initiatives. Aspiring Solicitors – which has received backing from firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Hogan Lovells – has set up a free academic and careers advice service for future solicitors from under-represented backgrounds.

Diversity recruitment specialist Rare also announced a project – to be rolled out later this year – to give disadvantaged students considering a career in law greater access to the profession through a 'contextual recruitment' scheme.