A Cabinet minister declined to confirm today whether the Conservative Party has received an additional £5 million donation from a millionaire businessman, Frank Hester, amidst the ongoing controversy over his inflammatory remarks about Black MP Diane Abbott.
Reports have surfaced suggesting that Hester, who previously gifted £10 million to the Tories, may have made an additional £5 million donation, bringing his total contributions to £15 million.
However, Transport Secretary Mark Harper refrained from confirming whether such a donation had been received, emphasizing that any future contributions would be declared as usual.
Harper defended Chancellor Rishi Sunak‘s handling of the situation, which saw a delay in labeling Hester’s comments as racist. Initially, ministers characterized the remarks as wrong but not racist, with a subsequent reversal after public pressure.
Harper defended the timeline, asserting that the issue was addressed promptly, with the Prime Minister clarifying the party’s stance within a short period.
The delay in unequivocally denouncing the remarks drew criticism, particularly after Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch intervened publicly to describe them as racist.
Despite the scrutiny, Harper maintained that the focus should be on addressing the substance of the comments rather than debating the timing of the party’s response.
Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have urged Sunak to return the £10 million donation, with Abbott herself expressing dismay over the comments and highlighting the persistent issue of racism in politics.
Sunak, however, has defended Hester, accepting his apology and emphasizing the importance of acknowledging his remorse.
The incident has reignited discussions surrounding racism in politics and the responsibility of political leaders to confront and address such issues promptly and unequivocally.
Despite the controversies, Harper emphasized the party’s commitment to transparency regarding donations and reiterated the need to focus on combating racism rather than engaging in debates over procedural timelines.
