This is the Tory party now: so devoid of values and leadership it can’t respond to blatantly racist remarks | Martin Kettle
GuardianMar 14
UK PM Refuses Calls to Return $13M From Donor Accused of Racism
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The Facts
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has rejected calls for the Conservative Party to return a £10M ($13M) donation from Frank Hester, following reports of controversial comments he made concerning Diane Abbott MP.
Media outlet The Guardian reported on Monday that, in 2019, Hester — who holds an Order of the British Empire (OBE) — stated that the MP made him "want to hate all black women," before saying: "I think she should be shot."
The Spin
Left narrative
Sunak and the Tories' continued inaction against party racism is shocking. Despite making a speech outside of Downing Street only weeks ago calling for an end to hate, the PM and his government remain reluctant to fight evident discrimination and prejudice. It is evident that Sunak has lost all grip of his party, lacking both the power and the backbone to stand up against the disgraceful comments of a prominent Tory donor.
Right narrative
Starmer continues to preach moral righteousness despite, as Sunak exposed during PMQs, the plethora of condemnable comments made by himself and his party in recent history. There is no doubt that Labour will continue to pounce on the mistakes made by real individuals for political gain, with the human inclination to forgive lacking from the opposition benches.
Nerd narrative
There is a 94% chance that Labour will have a majority in the House of Commons after the next UK General Election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
