PM Rishi Sunak has rejected opposition calls to refund money to a Conservative Party donor who said MP Diane Abbott “should be killed”.
The Prime Minister said Frank Hester’s claims were “wrong” and “disgusting”.
But he went on to tell MPs that Mr. Hester had apologized and “his remorse should be acknowledged”.
Mr Hester donated more than £10 million to the Conservative Party and in November gave Mr Sunak the right to use a £15,000 helicopter for official visits. Following the Prime Minister’s questions, Labor MP Martha de Cordova asked Mr Sunak directly whether he would return the helicopter donation.
He replied: “No. I’m happy that this man supports a party that represents one of the most diverse governments in the history of this country and is led by the country’s first British Prime Minister, Asia.” After he was suspended from office – he was in Parliament at the time but failed to try – he asked the Prime Minister, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, if he could call him and ask.
Sir Lindsay’s spokesman said he had to prioritize MPs listed in the order and that “there was not enough time to contact all MPs who wanted to ask questions”. Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has so far resisted calls for Ms Abbott to be reinstated as an MP, said the prime minister should write “brave back £10m”. Member for Hardonkney North and Stoke Newington (Mrs Abbott) ‘makes you want to hate all black women?’ ‘When did he use racist and misogynistic language? asked Ser Kell.
Mr Sunak replied: “The comments are wrong, they are ethnic and he has apologized to them and has to accept his regret.
Sir Keir also said Mr. Sunak was trying to make a speech about racism outside Downing Street.” “behaving as if there was some sort of conflict” but now finds himself “tongue-tied, clinging to wisdom, hoping he can intervene until it disappears”.
Mr. Sunak said he would “absolutely not accept it”. Sir Keir said “The opposition in the Labor Party “These are the things he did to be elected as the leader that enabled him to develop,” said Sir Keir. “He is disciplined, these are his priorities and this is what he needs to do. Decide,” he said.
Sir Keir replied: “The problem is that it describes a Labor Party that no longer exists.” The report says Mr Hurst said in 2019: “That’s good, so try not to be racist, but you see Diane. Abbott is on TV and it’s like you’re saying I hate him, you just want to hate all black women because he’s there and I don’t hate all black women either but I think he needs to be killed. “
In a statement published on Monday, Mr. Hester was told by Hester’s company, ” He said that he acknowledged his inappropriate behavior towards Diane Abbott during a private meeting several years ago, but that the criticism “had nothing to do with his wife or the color of her skin.”
“There is no place for racism in Britain and the government I lead is proof of that.”
