Former Tory chairman joins calls to return £10m donation amid racism row
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A former Tory chairman has urged Rishi Sunak to hand back £10 million from the Conservatives’ biggest donor, insisting a racism row over alleged comments about Diane Abbott is an “open and shut” case.
Pressure is mounting on the Tories after Frank Hester allegedly said Diane Abbott makes you “want to hate all black women” and “should be shot”.
The Prime Minister has suggested he does intend to give back the money as Mr Hester’s “remorse should be accepted”.
But Lord Patten, a Tory peer, asked how the party could possibly take “10 million smackers” of the entrepreneur’s money if he had made “racist” comments.
It comes as the Scottish Tories have said the UK party should “carefully review the donations it has received from Hester in response to his remarks”. Andy Street, a Conservative mayor, has also said he would hand back the money.
In an interview with Times Radio, Lord Patten said: “If he’s made remarks which are racist, how can you in a reasonable way take 10 million smackers of his money?
“It seems to me that it’s pretty open and shut, as people like Andy Street and others have said.
“So I think the sooner this is brought to an end the better. And as soon as this donor’s bank account has got another £10 million in it, which he probably doesn’t need, the better.”
Mr Sunak indicated that he did not intend to return the donations when challenged by Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
The Labour leader asked him whether he was “proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynistic language”.
The Prime Minister replied: “The alleged comments were wrong, they were racist, he has rightly apologised for them and that remorse should be accepted.
“There is no place for racism in Britain, and the Government I lead is living proof of that.”
Ms Abbott could be seen shaking her head at Mr Sunak’s answers, while other Labour MPs cried: “Shame!”
Asked earlier on Wednesday if he would hand back the cash, Mr Street, the West Midlands Mayor, told BBC Radio 4: “I would think about the company I kept and I would give that money back.
“I have to give you my view rather than what the party should do, but I have thought about how I would handle that situation.”
In a statement, the Scottish Tories said: “The Scottish Conservative Party has never accepted a donation from Frank Hester and the UK Conservative Party should carefully review the donations it has received from Hester in response to his remarks.”
The Prime Minister first described Mr Hester’s alleged comments as “racist” on Tuesday night. Downing Street had previously declined to use the term, instead branding them “clearly unacceptable”.
Mr Hester has admitted making “rude” comments about Ms Abbott, but claimed they had “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.
Downing Street said donations were a matter for CCHQ.
But the Prime Minister’s press secretary reiterated that Mr Hester had apologised.
“He has said very clearly on the record that racism is abhorrent; very strong words,” she said. “And ultimately he has been donating to the most diverse Cabinet in history, led by the first non-white prime minister.”
Lee Anderson, who defected to Reform UK after being stripped of the Tory whip over an Islamophobia row, suggested the Conservatives should return the money to show some “consistency”.
The MP insisted his remarks about Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, were not racist, but said the party should show “the same sort of discipline” towards Mr Hester that he received.
04:59 PM GMT
That’s all for today...
Thank you for joining our coverage of another busy day here in Westminster.
My colleague Jack Maidment will be back tomorrow to guide you through another day.
04:54 PM GMT
Jeremy Corbyn brands treatment of Diane Abbott ‘a disgrace’
If Parliament had listened to Diane Abbott:
We wouldn't have invaded Iraq.
Black Britons wouldn't have been deported in the Windrush Scandal.
Our country wouldn't have been decimated by austerity.
Diane's voice should not be ignored —her ongoing mistreatment is a disgrace.— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) March 13, 2024
04:52 PM GMT
Your thoughts: Why Sunak returning £10m could be a risk
04:42 PM GMT
Labour’s statement as Andy McDonald regains the party whip
The Chief Whip has today restored the Labour whip to Andy McDonald MP.
This follows a full investigation by the Labour Party into complaints received about public remarks that he made in October 2023.
The investigation concluded that he had not engaged in conduct that was against the party’s rulebook but reminded him of the importance of elected representatives being mindful, not only of what they say in public but how their words may be interpreted, especially in reference to controversial or emotive issues.
The Chief Whip met with Andy following the outcome of the investigation and received assurances that he understands the need to be mindful and about his future conduct.
04:38 PM GMT
Former Tory chairman: ‘Open and shut’ decision to hand back £10m
It should be an “open and shut” decision for the Conservatives to hand back Frank Hester’s donations following a racism row, a former party chairman has said.
Mr Sunak has faced calls to return £10 million to Mr Hester after comments he allegedly made in the past about Diane Abbott sparked a political firestorm.
The Prime Minister suggested in the Commons earlier today that he did not intend to return the money as he said Mr Hester’s “remorse should be accepted”.
But in an interview with Times Radio, Tory peer Lord Patten said: “If he’s made remarks which are racist, how can you in a reasonable way take 10 million smackers of his money?
“It seems to me that it’s pretty open and shut, as people like Andy Street and others have said. So I think the sooner this is brought to an end the better. And as soon as this donor’s bank account has got another £10 million in it, which he probably doesn’t need, the better.”
Mr Hester has admitted making “rude” comments about Ms Abbott, but claimed they had “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.
04:36 PM GMT
Have your say: Should Sunak and the Tories return £10m donation?
04:35 PM GMT
Labour MP Andy McDonald has the whip restored
Andy McDonald has had the Labour whip restored following his suspension for making reference to the controversial “from the river to the sea” chant at a pro-Palestine rally.
The MP for Middlesbrough was stripped of the whip by Sir Keir Starmer in November after a backlash to a speech he made in response to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Speaking at a pro-Palestine march in London, Mr McDonald said: “We won’t rest until we have justice, until all people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river and the sea can live in peaceful liberty.”
The chant “from the river to the sea” is viewed by many as anti-Semitic and his use of the phrase was criticised by Downing Street, which urged MPs to be “sensitive to the real fear many communities may be feeling”.
04:17 PM GMT
Mrs Murty smells the coffee
04:02 PM GMT
Rishi Sunak urged to ‘go long’ and call an autumn general election
Rishi Sunak “should go long” and call an autumn general election, members of the 1922 Committee executive have urged.
Eighteen Conservative MPs on the ruling body of the backbench group held their termly meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday night, when some reportedly warned him against a snap poll in May.
Senior Labour figures are insisting the Tories are planning to hold the election in two months, despite trailing Sir Keir Starmer’s party by around 20 points.
Mr Sunak has said an autumn election was “the working assumption” but refused to categorically rule out a May election in the wake of the Budget, prompting renewed speculation about when he will trigger the vote.
03:54 PM GMT
Good afternoon
Dominic Penna here, The Telegraph’s Political Correspondent, guiding you through the rest of the day.
03:52 PM GMT
Pictured: Grant Shapps meets soldiers during visit to north east Poland
03:43 PM GMT
Jenrick criticises plan to pay failed asylum seekers to move to Rwanda
Robert Jenrick has accused Rishi Sunak of “betrayal” over plans to offer failed asylum seekers £3,000 to move to Rwanda (see the post below at 08.36).
The former immigration minister tweeted that “symbolic flights” of people being paid to leave would not stop the boats as they were no deterrent to further crossings.
He warned they could be counterproductive by consuming “finite resources” in Rwanda that would be needed for forcibly deported migrants.
He said in a Twitter thread: “Faced with a life in the UK, with all the benefits that accompany it, or travelling to Rwanda, almost all failed asylum seekers will choose the former. It speaks to astonishing naivety about what we face.”
03:31 PM GMT
Hester should not be ‘cancelled’, says Hunt
Jeremy Hunt said a Tory donor’s alleged comments about Diane Abbott were “both” rude and racist but he should not be “cancelled”.
Frank Hester was alleged to have told colleagues in a 2019 meeting that looking at Ms Abbott, who now sits as an independent MP, makes you “want to hate all black women”.
Mr Hunt told the Treasury Select Committee this afternoon: “It was a despicable comment that should not have been made.”
He added: “He has apologised for his comments which I believe were racist, and rightly so.”
Asked if he thought the Tories should return the £10 million Mr Hester has donated to the Conservative Party, the Chancellor said he does not believe someone “should be cancelled for a comment they made in the past and for which they have apologised”.
He added: “That does not make the comments any less despicable and I don’t defend them.”
03:24 PM GMT
Abbott lobbied Starmer to restore Labour whip at end of PMQs
Diane Abbott lobbied Sir Keir Starmer to restore the Labour whip when they talked at the end of PMQs.
Ms Abbott and the Labour leader were seen talking when the session finished and the former shadow home secretary has confirmed that she asked for the whip to be restored.
Owen Jones, a journalist, tweeted that Sir Keir had told Ms Abbott “let me know if there’s anything I can do” to which she replied: “You could restore the whip.”
Ms Abbott quote tweeted the exchange posted by Mr Jones and said: “This is true.”
Ms Abbott was stripped of the Labour whip in April last year after she suggested that Jewish people do not suffer racism “all their lives”.
03:02 PM GMT
Abbott criticises Hoyle after she failed to get question at PMQs
Diane Abbott has criticised Sir Lindsay Hoyle after he failed to call her to ask a question at PMQs.
Ms Abbott, the former shadow home secretary, stood up repeatedly during the session in the House of Commons as she tried to ask Rishi Sunak a question amid the Frank Hester row.
But the Speaker did not select Ms Abbott. She tweeted: “I don’t know whose interests the Speaker thinks he is serving. But it is not the interests of the Commons or democracy.”
A spokeswoman for the Speaker said there was “not enough time” to call all MPs during PMQs: “During Prime Minister’s Questions, the Speaker must select MPs from either side of the House on an alternating basis for fairness.
“This takes place within a limited timeframe, with the chair prioritising Members who are already listed on the order paper.
“This week – as is often the case – there was not enough time to call all Members who wanted to ask a question.”
02:51 PM GMT
Postpone net zero targets ‘indefinitely’, says Rees-Mogg
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has called for net zero targets to be postponed “indefinitely”.
Sir Jacob, the former business secretary, said the Government announcement on gas-fired power stations yesterday was “extremely welcome”.
He told the Commons: “We have become fundamentally uncompetitive because of this green obsession. We want cheap electricity, and we should have gas and we should have coal and we should postpone net zero indefinitely, because we are only one per cent of global emissions, we are making no difference and the US economy is growing consistently faster than ours because of cheap energy. This is a good first step against the net zero obsession, we need to go further.”
Graham Stuart, an energy minister, replied: “I would chide [Sir Jacob] with the science and the evidence which is emerging all the time that there is a climate challenge and a climate emergency, that’s why we’re looking to reduce our emissions.”
02:18 PM GMT
Pictured: Kemi Badenoch and Greg Abbott sign UK-Texas trade deal
01:59 PM GMT
Tories and Labour trade attack ads over ‘unfunded’ promises
Labour and the Tories have traded social media attack ads as they accused each other of making unfunded spending pledges.
The Conservatives have zeroed in on Labour’s green plans. Labour has dropped its £28 billion investment figure but insisted it remains committed to getting to clean power by 2030.
The Tories said this will result in “higher taxes and higher bills”:
Labour are trying to pretend they can drop the £28 billion per year price tag for their eco pledge but keep the policy.
Keir Starmer can't say how he's going to afford it because he has no plan.
That means going back to square one with higher taxes and higher bills #PMQs pic.twitter.com/Sc4sBnHJVd— Conservatives (@Conservatives) March 13, 2024
Meanwhile, Labour has sought to portray Rishi Sunak as being the same as Liz Truss.
The party said the Prime Minister’s plan to eventually abolish National Insurance would “leave you paying the price”:
Rishi Sunak has a plan for an unfunded tax cut that will leave you paying the price.
Now where have we heard that before? 🤔#PMQs pic.twitter.com/sxurbnGl3e— The Labour Party (@UKLabour) March 13, 2024
01:40 PM GMT
Tories won’t give back Hester’s £10m because he has apologised, suggests No 10
The Tories will not hand back donations from Frank Hester because he “apologised” for remarks about Diane Abbott and condemned racism, Downing Street suggested.
The Prime Minister’s press secretary told reporters after PMQs: “Obviously donations are a matter for CCHQ (Conservative Campaign Headquarters) and you’re welcome to go to them.
“I’ll reiterate though, he has apologised for these alleged remarks. He has said very clearly on the record that racism is abhorrent; very strong words.
“And ultimately he has been donating to the most diverse Cabinet in history, led by the first non-white prime minister.”
01:34 PM GMT
Conservative Party should ‘carefully review’ Hester donations, say Scottish Tories
The Scottish Tories said the UK Conservative Party should “carefully review” the donations it has received from Frank Hester amid a row over his alleged comments about Diane Abbott.
A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: “These comments were racist and wrong.
“The Scottish Conservative Party has never accepted a donation from Frank Hester and the UK Conservative Party should carefully review the donations it has received from Hester in response to his remarks.”
The statement represents a blow to Rishi Sunak after he attempted to draw a line under the racism row at PMQs.
01:15 PM GMT
Sir Simon Clarke issues cryptic ‘iceberg’ warning
Sir Simon Clarke has appeared to double down on his warning that the Tories are heading for an electoral disaster with Rishi Sunak in charge.
The former Cabinet minister said in January that Mr Sunak should be replaced, writing in a piece for The Telegraph: “The unvarnished truth is that Rishi Sunak is leading the Conservatives into an election where we will be massacred.”
Sir Simon today published a one word tweet - “iceberg” - following today’s edition of Prime Minister’s Questions, a likely reference to the Titanic.
Iceberg.
— Simon Clarke MP (@SimonClarkeMP) March 13, 2024
12:40 PM GMT
SNP accuse Sunak of ‘putting money before morals’
Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader in Westminster, accused the Prime Minister of “putting money before morals”.
Mr Flynn told the Commons: “The Conservative Party have accepted a £10 million donation from an individual who has said that one of our Parliamentary colleagues in this chamber should be shot.
“Why is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom putting money before morals?”
Rishi Sunak replied: “The comments were wrong, the gentleman in question has apologised for them and that remorse should be accepted.”
12:31 PM GMT
Sunak ‘too scared’ to call a general election, claims Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer claimed Rishi Sunak was “too scared” to call a general election.
The Labour leader told the House of Commons: “Two weeks ago the Prime Minister promised to crackdown on those spreading hate. Today he has shrunk at the first challenge. Last week he promised fantasy tax cuts now he is pretending it can all be paid for with no impact on pensions or the NHS.
“All we need now is an especially hardy lettuce and it could be 2022 all over again. Is it any wonder that he is too scared to call an election when the public can see that the only way to protect their country, their pension and their NHS from the madness of this Tory Party is by voting Labour.”
Mr Sunak said: “He talks about pensions. Pensions are going up by around £900 in this year. It is this Government that has protected the triple lock for the last 10 years.”
12:18 PM GMT
Starmer claims Sunak is ‘tongue-tied’ amid Hester row
Sir Keir Starmer referred to Rishi Sunak’s recent speech on the steps of Downing Street about extremism as the Labour leader claimed the Prime Minister had sought to “anoint himself as the great healer” and as “some kind of unifier”.
But Sir Keir said that amid the Frank Hester row, Mr Sunak “suddenly finds himself tongue-tied, shrinking in sophistry, hoping he can deflect for long enough that we will all go away”.
Mr Sunak hit back and said: “I am absolutely not going to take any lectures from somebody who chose to represent an anti-Semitic terrorist group, Hizb ut-Tahrir...”
12:13 PM GMT
Sunak accuses Labour of ‘double standards’
Sir Keir Starmer said: “The man bankrolling the Prime Minister also said that the member for Hackney North ‘should be shot’.
“How low would he have to sink, what racist, woman-hating threat of violence would he have to make before the Prime Minister plucked up the courage to hand back the £10 million that he has taken from him?”
Rishi Sunak replied: “As I said, the gentleman apologised genuinely for his comments and that remorse should be accepted.
“He talks about language, he might want to reflect on the double standards of his deputy leader calling her opponents ‘scum’.
“His shadow foreign secretary comparing Conservatives to Nazis. And the man that he wanted to make chancellor talking about lynching a female minister. His silence on that speaks volumes.”
12:09 PM GMT
Sunak responds to Hester row: ‘Remorse should be accepted’
Sir Keir Starmer raised the Frank Hester row and asked: “Is the Prime Minister proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynist language when he says the member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington ‘makes you want to hate all black women’?”
Rishi Sunak replied: “The alleged comments were wrong, they were racist and he has rightly apologised for them and that remorse should be accepted.
“There is no place for racism in Britain and the Government that I lead is living proof of that.”
12:06 PM GMT
Starmer pays tribute to Theresa May
Sir Keir Starmer used his opening remarks at Prime Minister’s Questions to pay tribute to Theresa May after she announced she is stepping down at the next general election.
The Labour leader said it would be a “well-deserved retirement” and she had served with a “real sense of duty”.
“We thank her for her service,” he said.
12:03 PM GMT
Sunak ‘determined’ to give Horizon IT scandal victims ‘justice and redress’
Prime Minister’s Questions is now underway in the House of Commons.
Rishi Sunak started by confirming the Government will today publish its draft laws to exonerate wrongfully-convicted sub-postmasters caught up in the Horizon IT scandal.
The Prime Minister told MPs that he was “determined that the victims get the justice and redress that they deserve”.
11:48 AM GMT
Pictured: Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street ahead of PMQs at noon
11:30 AM GMT
Analysis: Sunak under pressure over handling of Hester row
Rishi Sunak faces a potentially very difficult Prime Minister’s Questions at noon.
The row over Frank Hester dominates Westminster this morning and Mr Sunak is facing pressure over his handling of the affair.
Ministers and No 10 declined yesterday morning to label the Tory donor’s alleged remarks about Diane Abbott as “racist”.
But Kemi Badenoch, the Business and Trade Secretary, then did exactly that after 4pm, with Downing Street subsequently changing its position a couple of hours later as it put out a statement labelling the comments “racist and wrong”.
It is supposed to be Mr Sunak and Downing Street setting the Government’s position on issues, not individual ministers.
Sir Keir Starmer will almost certainly seek to capitalise at PMQs and Mr Sunak will likely be asked to explain why the Government’s stance had not been firmer from the outset.
Yesterday gave the impression of a Prime Minister and a No 10 not in control of events but rather being buffeted and bounced by them. That will have worried Tory MPs.
11:19 AM GMT
Pictured: Lord Cameron arrives in Downing Street this morning
11:15 AM GMT
Archbishops claim Muslim communities at risk over new extremism definition
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have claimed the Government’s planned new definition of extremism risks “more division” which could “disproportionately” target Muslim communities.
In a joint statement, the Most Reverend Justin Welby and the Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell said labelling a “multi-faceted problem” as hateful extremism could vilify the wrong people and increase divisions within communities.
Their comments come ahead of a new definition of extremism to be unveiled by Michael Gove, the Communities Secretary, which will enable universities, councils and other public bodies to crack down on a wider range of Islamist and Right-wing groups.
You can read the full story here.
10:59 AM GMT
Greenpeace UK urges Government to address cost of cold homes
Greenpeace activists have erected hundreds of cemetery “headstones” made from insulation boards outside Parliament today to warn a failure to tackle cold homes is costing thousands of lives.
It is urging the Government to invest £6 billion a year to make homes warmer, improve health, cut bills and tackle climate change.
10:43 AM GMT
If Sunak had ‘any backbone’ he would return Hester donation, says Labour
Jonathan Ashworth said if Rishi Sunak had “any backbone” he would immediately return Frank Hester’s donation amid a racism row.
Mr Hester gave the Tories £10 million last year but there are calls for the money to be given back after a storm erupted over comments he allegedly made in the past about Diane Abbott.
The shadow paymaster general told Sky News: “I thought it was absolutely staggering it took Rishi Sunak 24 hours to condemn these racist, reprehensible comments about Diane Abbott.
“I think that shows how weak Rishi Sunak is. You will remember a couple of weeks ago it took him a while to take on, now the Reform MP, Lee Anderson for Islamophobic comments. He should have been out there condemning these comments immediately.
“But, fundamentally, he has taken £10 million from this individual. Every Tory MP and candidate handing out leaflets, paying for Facebook advertising — it is funded by this £10 million from this individual who has made these deeply, deeply racist, offensive comments.
“If Rishi Sunak had anything about him, if he had any backbone, he would pay that money back today.”
10:29 AM GMT
Hunt: GDP figures ‘show we are making progress’
Jeremy Hunt said today’s GDP figures “show we are making progress in growing the economy”.
But Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, claimed the UK was still in “economic decline”.
Mr Hunt said:
“While the last few years have been tough, today’s numbers show we are making progress in growing the economy - part of which makes it possible to bring down national insurance contributions by £900 this coming year. But if we want the rate of growth to pick up more we need to make work pay which means ending the unfairness of taxing work twice.”
And Ms Reeves tweeted:
After fourteen years of economic decline under the Conservatives, Britain is worse off.
Now the Conservatives risk re-running Liz Truss' disastrous mini-Budget with their £46 billion unfunded tax plan.
We need an election now.— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) March 13, 2024
10:07 AM GMT
Mark Drakeford gives evidence to Covid Inquiry
Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, is giving evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in Cardiff today.
Mr Drakeford, who will stand down as Welsh Labour leader this month, will answer questions throughout the day on the nation’s response to the pandemic.
You can follow the latest updates on The Telegraph’s Covid Inquiry live blog here.
10:03 AM GMT
Pictured: Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, arrives in Downing Street today
09:51 AM GMT
UK economy returned to growth in January
The UK economy returned to growth at the start of the year, according to official figures published this morning, raising hopes that the country could be on its way out of a shallow recession.
Gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have risen by 0.2 per cent in January, following a decline of 0.1 per cent in December, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
The nation fell into a technical recession in the second half of 2023, defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction.
09:47 AM GMT
1,000 new members joined Reform on day of Anderson defection, says Tice
Reform UK recorded a membership surge on the day that Lee Anderson joined the party, with 1,000 people signing up, Richard Tice has said.
Mr Anderson announced he was joining Reform on Monday.
Mr Tice, the Reform leader, tweeted this morning: “1,000 join [Reform UK] the day of [Lee Anderson’s] defection. Welcome…….Onwards and upwards.”
09:33 AM GMT
Boris Johnson election campaign return ‘isn’t going to happen’, says Farage
Nigel Farage has rubbished the suggestion that Boris Johnson could return to campaign for the Tories at the next general election as he said: “It isn’t going to happen, folks.”
A report earlier this week suggested Mr Johnson could return to the political frontline to help the Conservatives in the run up to polling day.
But allies of the former prime minister poured cold water on the idea, telling The Telegraph that Mr Johnson has barely spoken to Rishi Sunak in the past year.
Mr Farage weighed in last night, telling his GB News show: “Well, one reason why he won’t do it is he doesn’t really like Rishi Sunak very much. The second reason he won’t do it is there’d be nothing in it for him.
“And the third reason he won’t do it is because the last time it was polled, 50 per cent of those in the Red Wall who voted Boris in 2019 now had no confidence in him whatsoever. It isn’t going to happen, folks.”
09:13 AM GMT
Andy Street says he would return Tory donation to Frank Hester
Andy Street, the Conservative Mayor of the West Midlands, said he would return Frank Hester’s donation amid a row over comments the Tory donor allegedly made about Diane Abbott.
Mr Street said he would “think about the company I keep”. Mr Hester gave £10 million to the Conservatives last year.
Asked if the Tories should give the money back, Mr Street told the BBC: “Obviously I have been thinking about this, about what I would do if this was a donation to my campaign in the West Midlands which of course is separate from the main funding.
“And the answer is I would think about the company I kept and I would give that money back.
“I have to give you my view rather than what the party should do but I have thought about how I would handle that situation.”
He added: “There is a principle here. Those comments were offensive, they were racist as the Prime Minister said, and you do need to think about the company that you keep.”
09:02 AM GMT
Minister defends Government’s response to Frank Hester comments
A minister said the “situation was unfolding pretty quickly” after he was asked to explain why the Government had initially been reluctant to label controversial comments made by a Tory donor about Diane Abbott as “racist”.
A number of ministers and No 10 had declined to call remarks made by Frank Hester “racist” but Downing Street did later change its stance as it said the alleged comments were “racist and wrong”.
Mr Hester gave £10 million to the Conservatives last year and opposition parties are calling for the Tories to give the money back.
He was alleged to have told colleagues in a 2019 meeting that looking at Ms Abbott, a former Labour MP who now sits as an independent, makes you “want to hate all black women”.
Asked about the Government’s changing stance on the comments, Kevin Hollinrake, the postal affairs minister, said this morning: “The situation was unfolding pretty quickly and… as far as I am concerned these comments were racist, they were absolutely the wrong thing [to say]. You don’t judge somebody’s character by their skin colour. That is effectively what those comments meant.”
Asked whether the Tories should give the money back, Mr Hollinrake said: “He has apologised, we should move on from that in my view.”
08:47 AM GMT
Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer leaves his London home this morning
08:36 AM GMT
£3,000 for failed asylum seekers to move to Rwanda a ‘good use of public money’, says minister
A plan to offer £3,000 to failed asylum seekers to voluntarily move to Rwanda is a “good use of public money”, a minister insisted this morning.
Kevin Hollinrake, the postal affairs minister, said that it “costs a lot more money than that to keep people in this country”.
Asked if the plan was a good use of taxpayers’ money and if it would undermine the separate deportation flights scheme, he told Times Radio: He said: “Yes and no in terms of yes, it is a good use of public money, no it doesn’t undermine the scheme. Quite the opposite.
“This is a scheme that already runs, we are looking at this, we haven’t announced that’s exactly what we are going to do yet.
“But what we do… if we return a failed asylum seeker back to their home country we do pay these monies to help them resettle back in their home country and we are considering doing that for people who we relocate to Rwanda.
“So clearly £3,000 is a lot of money but it costs a lot more money than that to keep people in this country who are without merit, who have come here illegally and failed the asylum tests.”
The £3,000 plan relates to people who have already been through the asylum system and been rejected. The separate Rwanda flights scheme will see small boat migrants sent to Rwanda straight away to have their claims processed.
08:18 AM GMT
Minister: Sub-postmaster Horizon scandal convictions to be quashed in July
Sub-postmasters wrongfully convicted as part of the Horizon IT scandal will have their convictions quashed in July, the postal affairs minister said this morning.
Asked when it will happen, Kevin Hollinrake told Times Radio: “We think in July, before the summer recess. So, by sometime around mid-July and it won’t just be one conviction that is quashed, it will be literally hundreds, probably around 700 convictions will be quashed at that time.
“That will open the door to paying those people compensation. So literally within weeks from that, so probably in August, we can start paying compensation to those individuals, quite rightly.”
Rishi Sunak will unveil the Government’s exoneration plan today. Mr Sunak said the proposed Post Office (Horizon System) Offences Bill marked “an important step forward in finally clearing” the names of hundreds of wrongfully convicted branch managers who had their lives “callously torn apart”.
08:13 AM GMT
Post-Budget poll puts Tories at lowest level since Truss
Rishi Sunak and the Tories have sunk to their lowest level of poll support since the resignation of Liz Truss as last week’s Budget failed to deliver a boost.
A new Savanta survey conducted between Mar 8-10 in the days after the Budget put the Conservatives on 25 per cent and Labour on 43 per cent, giving the latter a lead of 18 points.
The Tories were down by two points and Labour were down by one point when compared to the company’s previous poll from Mar 1-3.
🚨NEW Westminster Voting Intention
📈18pt Labour lead - lowest Conservative vote share since final week of Truss
🌹Lab 43 (-1)
🌳Con 25 (-2)
🔶LD 11 (+1)
➡️Reform 9 (+1)
🌍Green 4 (=)
🎗️SNP 3 (=)
⬜️Other 4 (=)
2,032 UK adults, 8-10 March
(chg 1-3 March) pic.twitter.com/uYrOMCyZJk— Savanta UK (@Savanta_UK) March 13, 2024
Savanta said the 25 per cent figure for the Conservatives was the “lowest voting intention Savanta has recorded for the Conservatives since the final week of Liz Truss’ turbulent premiership in October 2022”.
Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta, said: “The last time we recorded the Conservatives’ vote share this low, their leader resigned within the week. Not since the final days of Prime Minister Liz Truss have so few of the UK public expressed a willingness to vote Conservative.
“This is just one poll, yes. But what should concern Rishi Sunak - less than two months from crucial local elections - is that these numbers fit part of a wider trend. Our latest voting intention isn’t a sudden drop, it looks like a long-term downwards trend that the Prime Minister can’t seem to reverse.”
