Sunak to try to calm Tory jitters amid reports of plot to oust him PM’s allies fight rearguard action as rebellious MPs reportedly plot coup to avoid wipeout at the polls The Guardian - UK · Mar 17, 2024
Diverse cabinet is no ‘get-out-of-jail-free card’ on racism, says ex-No 10 adviser Samuel Kasumu ‘frustrated and disappointed’, as minister denies Tories have a problem after Frank Hester row The Guardian - UK · Mar 17, 2024
Ed Davey calls for cap on political donations after Frank Hester storm Lib Dem leader uses conference speech to urge change ‘so that even the wealthiest racists cannot buy power’ The Guardian - UK · Mar 17, 2024
When barefoot PE leaves you cold Brief letters: Cold therapy | Rebranding LTNs | Moral bankruptcy | Frank Hester’s racist comment | Tax woes | Fairer society The Guardian - UK · Mar 17, 2024
Cabbies have given me some great lines, but they have nothing on Frank Hester Another week, another racism scandal farts out from the dying body politic of this gaseous corpse of a Conservative government The Guardian - UK · Mar 17, 2024
Rishi Sunak’s refusal to give up the Frank Hester gold proves his principles have a price point If the Tory party won’t relinquish the millions from its disgraced donor, it will be saying it doesn’t have a problem being associated with racism The Guardian - UK · Mar 17, 2024
‘Our chances? Zero – and getting worse’: inside a Tory death spiral Frank Hester, Lee Anderson, an unpopular budget … as the catalogue of Conservative disasters piles up, discipline seems to be breaking down, and any hope of election victory fading The Guardian - UK · Mar 17, 2024
The Observer view: Michael Gove’s definition of extremism will shut down vital debate Whether something is racist or homophobic, or threatens parliamentary democracy, should be obvious without government labelling The Guardian - UK · Mar 17, 2024
Revealed: Sunak flown to Leeds for private tour of Frank Hester’s office weeks after £5m donation Fresh questions raised over Tory donor’s access to prime minister following November visit The Guardian - UK · Mar 16, 2024
Sunak under pressure to say how many times he has met Tory donor Frank Hester Exclusive: photograph of Sunak with Hester at Tory fundraiser last June raises further questions for prime minister The Guardian - UK · Mar 16, 2024
Diane Abbott thanks supporters at anti-racism rally in east London Hackney MP tells large crowd ‘this is not about me, this is about the level of racism in Britain’ The Guardian - UK · Mar 15, 2024
Health workers’ unions call for Frank Hester to lose NHS contracts BMA says Tory donor should resign from his company as questions grow about how many times Hester has met Sunak The Guardian - UK · Mar 15, 2024
This Tory long goodbye is toxic for the country – and making Labour’s job ever harder The greater the wait until the election, the more reassurance Labour must provide. And that weakens its future mandate, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland The Guardian - UK · Mar 15, 2024
‘Nope, no way’: can the Tories afford to give Frank Hester’s money back? Unwillingness to hand back £15m in donations despite uproar may show frailty of financial firepower The Guardian - UK · Mar 15, 2024
The Guardian - UK · Mar 15, 2024 Frank Hester racism row: how key figures reacted to remarks about Diane Abbott Tory donor has been widely condemned over racist and misogynistic comments about prominent black MP
Al Jazeera · Mar 15, 2024 Black Britons fear for Diane Abbott after a millionaire’s call for violence A top Tory donor said the veteran politician, affectionately called ‘Auntie Di’ by her supporters, should be shot.
Evening Standard · Mar 15, 2024 Diane Abbott says Labour leadership determined to keep her out of parliamentary party Party insists a long-running investigation into Abbott should not be conflated with its support for her now over a Tory donor ‘racism’ row
The Guardian - UK · Mar 15, 2024 GPs call for health tech boss Frank Hester to resign after Abbott remarks BMA committee votes in emergency motion after Tory donor’s comments about MP condemned as racist and misogynist
The Guardian - UK · Mar 15, 2024 The threat to MPs is real. But Michael Gove’s empty extremism plans will do nothing to tackle it Politicians should be able to differ in their views without their opponents wishing them dead. Can parliament unite around that principle? asks Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
The Guardian - UK · Mar 15, 2024 In Britain’s degraded politics, fighting racism has become a cynical game This goes far beyond a Tory donor’s racist comments about Diane Abbott, and Labour’s opportunistic response, says sociology professor Gary Younge
Evening Standard · Mar 14, 2024 Tories 'given further £5million' from 'racist rant' donor Frank Hester The healthcare entrepreneur allegedly said Diane Abbott made him ‘want to hate all black women’
The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024 Who are the Tories’ recent biggest donors after Frank Hester? Company founders, a member of the Sainsbury dynasty and a vice-chair of a textile giant have donated large sums to the party
The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024 Diane Abbott’s chances of getting whip back appear remote despite Hester row Senior figures including deputy leader want to see MP back in fold but Starmer is firm that he does not want to ‘conflate’ issues
The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024 Frank Hester’s racist remarks should be a seminal moment for British politics Letters: Dr Arun Midha, formerly of the select committee on standards, says all political parties must now stand against racism in their actions and words. Plus letters from supporters in Abbott’s constituency and the NHS, and other readers
Evening Standard · Mar 14, 2024 Growing calls for Diane Abbott to be restored as Labour MP Ms Abbott has sat as an independent MP since April after the Labour whip was withdrawn