The Tory donor racism row has entered its second week, much to the dismay of politicians on all sides of the chamber. Both the Conservatives and Labour have had to face uncomfortable questions on Frank Hester’s remarks about Diane Abbott in the last week. After the Tories were criticised for taking too long to condemn the comments as ‘racist’, transport secretary Mark Harper defended his party on Sunday, telling the BBC that the Prime Minister had wanted to check the veracity of the remarks first. And the Labour party was blasted by Abbott herself last week, writing in an op-ed about her experience of ‘abusive’ officials in her former party who ‘did not actually call for me to be shot but the tenor was not dissimilar to what Hester said’.
But business secretary Kemi Badenoch appears to have had enough. ‘I’m still amazed that over a week later I’m still being asked about it,’ she told BBC Breakfast on Monday morning. ‘That was a week ago.’
Unfazed, her interviewer tried again. He quizzed Badenoch about whether the Tory party planned to keep Hester’s donations, which have totalled £10 million in donations over the last year. ‘Are you comfortable with the fact that money is not being given back?’
‘Yes,’ Badenoch replied firmly, adding:
I thought the comments were racist but he had apologised. I think when people apologise we need to accept that and move on. In the grand scheme of things that I am looking at and the problems that I am trying to solve this is nowhere near the priorities of any of my constituents or the general public.
Trying once more to persist with his line of questioning, the BBC presenter probed the business secretary about an additional £5 million Hester is reported to be giving to the Conservatives. ‘As I just said, he’s apologised for his comments,’ Badenoch responded shortly.’ I think that should be the end of the matter.’
That’s him told…
Watch the exchange here:
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