Diane Abbott – dwell: Michael Gove refuses to say if ‘racist’ donor comments are ‘extremism’

Michael Gove has declined to say whether or not his social gathering has a racism downside following comments by a prime Conservative donor and certainly one of its former MPs.

“I think there are individuals who’ve certainly said things that are unacceptable and racist and that needs to be called out,” he instructed Times Radio when requested if his social gathering had an issue.

“But again, I also think that if individuals repent, apologise, show contrition, then the right thing to do is to accept that,” he added.

Mr Gove stated Mr Hester had “shown contrition” after it was alleged he had stated Diane Abbott, Britain’s first black feminine MP, made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.

Last month Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, stated London mayor Sadiq Khan, a Muslim, was being managed by Islamists. He has since defected to Reform UK, the newest reincarnation of Nigel Farage’s UKIP.

Ministers condemned the comments as unacceptable however declined to say whether or not they have been racist or Islamophobic.

For the previous 24 hours, Chante Joseph has heard folks say {that a} remark about wanting a Black lady shot isn’t racist.

“Imagine now you are a Black woman in your kitchen and how this could make you feel. Then imagine how it feels to be told this has ‘nothing’ to do with the colour of your skin or gender,” she writes.

Read Chante’s piece in full right here:

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake instructed broadcasters on Wednesday that the social gathering wouldn’t give again the cash, telling Sky News that “clearly” the comments have been racist, however that it was proper to hold the donation as a result of Hester “is not a racist, and he has apologized for what he said.”

But Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of England’s West Midlands area, instructed BBC radio that if it have been up to him, “I would think about the company I kept and I would give that money back.”

Rishi Sunak, in the meantime, appeared to rule out giving the money again throughout Prime Minister’s Question yesterday.

But ought to he give the money again and can the social gathering’s line on the scandal maintain? Have your say right here:

Michael Gove urged Tory backer Frank Hester’s alleged name for an MP to be shot wouldn’t be referred to the Government’s new extremism activity power.

The Communities Secretary instructed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have to be clear, we’re looking at organisations with a particular ideology.

“The individual concerned said something that was horrific. And as someone who was themselves targeted by an extremist who wanted to kill me and then went on to kill a friend of mine, I take these issues incredibly seriously.

“And so again, I wouldn’t want to conflate those motivated by extremist ideology with an individual comment, however horrific, which has quite rightly been called out and which has quite rightly led to an apology.”

Diane Abbott has accused each the Conservatives and Labour of failing to take care of racism.

Writing exclusively for The Independent, the previous Labour MP stated: “The Tory reluctance to call our racism and sexism is shocking, but hardly surprising.

“But the position of the current leadership of the Labour Party is disappointing – it seemed equally reluctant at the outset to call out either racism or sexism. In fact, a number of Labour statements were issued, and interviews given where neither word was mentioned.

“Instead, the entire focus was on the demand that the Tories give Hester back his money, which is surely not the primary point in this case.”

Diane Abbott has criticised claims that the UK is now a “post-racial” society.

Writing in The Independent, she stated: “In effect, it is the outlandish assertion that the various iterations of this government have abolished racism.

“The same government that gave us austerity that deepened inequality, the hostile environment, poster vans telling immigrants to ‘Go Home!’, a Brexit that was said to control immigration – and now the Rwanda policy.

“The propaganda claim to have moved on from racism becomes ever more shrill in the face of the evidence all around us. And then, every once in a while a minor character like Lee Anderson or Frank Hester wanders in from stage right to remind us about the real character of the Tory party.

“It is an impossible task to pretend you are a party led by modern-day Abraham Lincolns, when most of your base agrees with Ukip, the Brexit Party or Reform UK.”

Rishi Sunak is below mounting strain to name a snap normal election after a ballot confirmed almost half of the general public need a May contest.

The prime minister has refused to say when the subsequent election will happen, solely suggesting that it will likely be within the second half of 2024.

But a ballot by More in Common, seen by The Independent, confirmed 4 in ten voters need an election to happen inside weeks. Fewer than 30 per cent of voters need the prime minister to wait till November, when many anticipate the vote to happen.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the unique report:

Diane Abbott has accused Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle of failing to act within the “interests of the Commons or democracy” after she was not referred to as to communicate at Prime Minister’s Questions.

Major Tory donor Frank Hester is alleged to have stated Ms Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving black MP, made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.

Independent MP Ms Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington) stood repeatedly in a bid to catch Sir Lindsay’s eye and be referred to as to ask a query, with Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer utilizing the session to press Rishi Sunak about Mr Hester’s comments.

Ms Abbott, writing on X/Twitter, stated: “I don’t know whose interests the Speaker thinks he is serving. But it is not the interests of the Commons or democracy.”

A spokeswoman for the Speaker’s Office stated there was “not enough time” to name all MPs, including: “During Prime Minister’s Questions, the Speaker must select MPs from either side of the House on an alternating basis for fairness.

“This takes place within a limited timeframe, with the chair prioritising Members who are already listed on the Order Paper. This week – as is often the case – there was not enough time to call all Members who wanted to ask a question.”