UK PM Refuses Calls to Return $13M From Donor Accused of Racism

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Facts

  • UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has rejected calls for the Conservative Party to return a £10M ($13M) donation from Frank Hester, following reports of controversial comments he made concerning Diane Abbott MP.1
  • Media outlet The Guardian reported on Monday that, in 2019, Hester — who holds an Order of the British Empire (OBE) — stated that the MP made him 'want to hate all black women,' before saying: 'I think she should be shot.'2
  • Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sunak said that while the comments were 'wrong' and 'racist,' Hester had apologized. 'Remorse should be accepted,' he added.1
  • Releasing a statement on social media platform X, Hester claimed that he 'accepts that he was rude,' said he rang Abbott twice on Monday 'to apologise directly for the hurt he has caused her,' and that he 'regards racism as a poison' with 'no place in public life.'3
  • Last year, Hester made a single personal donation of £5M ($6.4M), as well as three company donations via Phoenix Partnership LTD amounting to another £5M. Hester's donation total for 2023 was only superseded by the late Lord John Sainsbury (£10.2M/$13.1M) within UK politics.4

Sources: 1hansard.parliament.uk, 2Guardian, 3twitter.com and 4search.electoralcommission.org.uk.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by Guardian. Sunak and the Tories' continued inaction against party racism is shocking. Despite making a speech outside of Downing Street only weeks ago calling for an end to hate, the PM and his government remain reluctant to fight evident discrimination and prejudice. It is evident that Sunak has lost all grip of his party, lacking both the power and the backbone to stand up against the disgraceful comments of a prominent Tory donor.
  • Right narrative, as provided by conservativehome.com. Starmer continues to preach moral righteousness despite, as Sunak exposed during PMQs, the plethora of condemnable comments made by himself and his party in recent history. There is no doubt that Labour will continue to pounce on the mistakes made by real individuals for political gain, with the human inclination to forgive lacking from the opposition benches.

Predictions