Sunak says race row donor has shown ‘remorse’ amid calls at PMQs to return cash

David Graham

1 year ago

Sunak says race row donor has shown ‘remorse’ amid calls at PMQs to return cash – BBC News

Summary

Rishi Sunak is facing questions at PMQs about the way he responded to comments made by a Tory donor that No 10 has called “racist”
The PM is under pressure to return £10m donated to the Conservative Party by Frank Hester over remarks the businessman reportedly made about MP Diane Abbott
Labour has called on the Conservatives to give the money back, and Sir Keir Starmer is pressing the PM on the issue at PMQs
“Is the prime minister proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynist language?” Starmer asks
Sunak says Hester has apologised “genuinely” and accuses Starmer of “double standards”
Earlier Andy Street, the Conservatives’ West Midlands mayor, said he would have given the money back it if were his decision
Hester allegedly said Abbott made him want to “hate all black women”
Other issues being debated at PMQs include the government’s ambition to phase out National Insurance contributions, the conflict in Gaza and NHS funding