Michael Gove ‘exercises Christian forgiveness’ over Tory donor’s alleged comments about Diane Abbott

Michael Gove has said he prefers to “exercise Christian forgiveness” when it comes to Tory donors’ comments about former Labor MP Diane Abbott.

Earlier this week, The Guardian reported that businessman Frank Hurst told his staff Ms Abbott told him he “wanted to hate all black women” and “should be shot”.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition politicians have dismissed comments about Britain’s first black woman becoming an MP as “racist and wrong”.

But even though the businessman said He was “deeply sorry” for the remarkhe insisted they had “nothing to do with her gender or the color of her skin.”

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Speaking to Sky News’ Wilfred Frost, Communities Secretary Gove said Mr Hester had made a “sincere apology” and he believed he had “demonstrated genuine respect” for the alleged remarks about the MP concerned. Confession”.

“It’s important to recognize… that our government is the most diverse in the western world and Mr Hester donated money to support a British Asian prime minister, so I think that’s put into context Very important,” he said.

“However, it is right that Mr Hester should be censured for his comments and it is right that he should apologize. I know he has and has shown full remorse.”

Pressed by Wilfred Frost on whether the apology would be sincere if Tory donors did not accept the alleged racist and misogynistic comments, Mr Gove said: “I think , when someone says they are sorry, I understand that they are deeply sorry for those remarks.” – My natural inclination then is to exercise Christian forgiveness. “

Ms Abbott called the alleged comments “horrifying” and “shocking”, particularly given that two MPs in recent years – Labour’s Jo Cox and the Conservatives’ Sir David Arms – –murdered.

Despite outrage over the remarks and mounting pressure from all sides in the House, Mr Sunak appears to rule out returning donations Thanks to Mr Hester and his company The Phoenix Partnership, they have donated £10m to the Conservative Party since the 2019 general election.

Sunak told Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday that he was “pleased” the businessman was backing “one of the most diverse governments in this country’s history”.

The position has been attacked by both Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer and the SNP’s Stephen Flynn, who accused the Prime Minister of “putting money before morality”.

However, despite being in the chamber for the entire meeting – and standing up 40 times to try to ensure questions were asked – Ms Abbott was never asked to talk about her own experience.

Writing in the Independent, the former Labor MP attacked the bipartisan response to Hester’s comments. The former Labor MP was sacked last year for suggesting that Jews should not face racism.

“The Tory reluctance to call out racism and sexism is shocking but not surprising,” she said. “But the position of Labour’s current leadership is disappointing – it initially seemed equally unwilling to call out racism or sexism. In fact, Labor has made numerous statements and conducted interviews without mentioning either word. .

“Instead, the entire focus is on the Conservative Party’s demand for the return of Hester’s money, which is certainly not the focus of this case.”

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Darren Jones, Labour’s shadow treasurer, told Sky News he did not want Ms Abbott’s “sensitive and difficult issue” to “become an intra-party debate”.

But he claimed that racism and misogyny would “not be tolerated” under Sir Keir’s leadership and would “be dealt with very, very quickly”.