The controversy surrounds Tory donor Frank Hester's alleged racist comments, with politicians divided on whether the party should keep his donations. Kemi Badenoch and Rishi Sunak defend keeping the money, dismissing the issue as 'trivia' and advocating forgiveness. Some, like Lucy Frazer, suggest accepting the apology and moving on, while others, like Zarah Sultana, propose donating the funds to charity.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer suggests the Conservative Party should keep the £5m donated from top donor Frank Hester, despite the 'unacceptable remarks' he made towards Diane Abbott 'So, accept the apology, accept the money and move on?' 'Yes... I think that's exactly right.' https://t.co/haKMU5SntQ
'That is not trivia.' After Kemi Badenoch branded Frank Hester's race row as 'trivia', the Tory Reform Group's Siobhan Aarons tells @NickFerrariLBC how often black British women are 'at the brunt' of 'racist comments and tropes'. https://t.co/n0AuY8WnVT
With Kemi Badenoch labelling the ongoing Tory donor 'racism' row 'trivia', @IainDale's panel discusses this and more. Watch live on @GlobalPlayer.
What should the Tories do with Frank Hester's £10 million donation? I believe it should go to charities of Diane Abbott's choosing, as I said on BBC Politics Midlands this weekend: https://t.co/vsN8hO11tL
🚨 NEW: Kemi Badenoch believes the government have “drawn a line” under Frank Hesner race now, and should not return the donations
Sunak hints Tories would accept another £5m from 'racism' storm donor Frank Hester https://t.co/RQuCYbezc7
Rishi Sunak hints the Tories would accept another £5 million from 'racism' storm donor Frank Hester
Tories struggling to 'draw line' under Frank Hester racism row more than a week on https://t.co/ciim78XFnn
#Peston: Why would you take £5m from someone you've said made racist comments? Rishi Sunak: "He's already apologised... & that's that." https://t.co/WQn3Vk84r9
Kemi Badenoch says the Tories shouldn't return any money from top donor Frank Hester, including a further £5m donation on top of £10m donated last year 'Forgiveness is the right response', she tells @Peston https://t.co/IPzSFhNFRQ
Tories 'have drawn a line' under Frank Hester race row and should keep donations - Badenoch Read more 🔗 https://t.co/BTSzcIpvYr
The Business Secretary said the Conservatives shouldn't return money donated to the party by top donor Frank Hester https://t.co/2Q0kEqO3iD
Kemi Badenoch has said there is no reason why the Conservatives should refuse money from their biggest donor after he was accused of racism, dismissing the row as “trivia” ⬇️ https://t.co/0p2pewHWID
'The relentless focus on it is trivial' @KemiBadenoch says the row over 'racist' comments made by top Tory donor Frank Hester is 'outsized', and that we need 'to move on' and forgive him Speaking to @Peston https://t.co/8ky5lnNaox
Kemi Badenoch does make a good point here about drawing a line on Frank Hester. Whilst his comments as reported from 2019 were unacceptable he has apologised & giving him £15 million would be an odd “penalty”. At this point, the media dragging it out is just an obsession. https://t.co/L7riiEspMQ
That Kemi Badenoch broadcast round in full: * Frank Hester's comments weren't really about Diane Abbott. * We're right to keep his money. * It's trivia and everyone has moved on. https://t.co/L773x0TVcQ
Kemi Badenoch doing backflips to justify her party keeping hold of Frank Hester’s donations is embarrassing! The message they are sending out is do what you like, say what you like as long as you have a lot of money! #Shameful https://t.co/hamL5u454A
'This is trivia': Kemi Badenoch hits out at continued furore over Tory donor 'racism' row https://t.co/suJ3rRCBLQ
She adds: "I'm very aware of what he said, Nick (Ferrari). I don't need you to tell me what is and what isn't racist ... we need to get to a point where we stop chasing people around and stop looking everywhere for the racism. "This is trivia, it really is." https://t.co/Xhu6XDIbG2
Ed Davey calls for cap on political donations after Frank Hester storm https://t.co/faPU9CLasv
Give race row donor's money to charity, says MP https://t.co/VL5oPf4DbR