Sunak appears to rule out cash returns to Tory donors embroiled in racism row

Rishi Sunak appears to rule out returning money to a Tory donor who allegedly said Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and “should be shot” .

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Labor MP Marsha De Cordova was asked if he would return a specific donation from Frank Hester’s company for helicopter tours of £15,900), Mr Sunak said “no”.

The Prime Minister added that he was “delighted” that the businessman was backing “one of the most diverse governments in this country’s history”.

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It comes as Sunak faces growing pressure to return funds to Mr Hirst and his health software company The Phoenix Partnership, which have donated £10m to the Conservative Party since the 2019 election sterling, so there was a brief exchange in the House of Commons.

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer asked: “How low? [Mr Hester] “What racist, misogynistic threats of violence he has to make” before Mr Sunak “plucks up the courage” to hand over the cash.

The Prime Minister echoed his statement on Tuesday night, calling the businessman’s alleged comments “racist” and saying there was “no place for racism in Britain”.

But he said Mr Hester “sincerely apologized for his comments and should accept remorse” and directed his anger at Sir Keir’s support of former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, who he said had failed to do so during his time in office “Let anti-Semitism flourish.”

Ms Abbott stood up to ask a question during PMQs but was not selected by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. Sky News has contacted the Speaker’s office for comment.

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