British premier refuses to return millions from donor accused of making racist comment

By Mehmet Solmaz

BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) – Britain’s prime minister is dodging calls to hand back a £10 million ($12.8) donation given to the Conservative Party by a businessman who reportedly said a senior Black lawmaker made him want to "hate all Black women.”

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions at the House of Commons on Wednesday, Rishi Sunak said businessman Frank Hester rightly apologized for his “racist” and “wrong” comments and that his "remorse should be accepted."

The millionaire donor also allegedly said of Diane Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving black MP, that she “should be shot.”

In a series of questions, opposition parties cornered Sunak on how the ruling party could be financially supported by those with racist views.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer asked: “Is the prime minister proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynistic language when he says the member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Diane Abbott) ‘makes you want to hate all Black women?' ”

Sunak replied: “The alleged comments were wrong, they were racist, he has rightly apologized for them and that remorse should be accepted.”

He added: “There is no place for racism in Britain, and the government I lead is living proof of that.”

But he avoided the question on whether he plans to return the donation to Hester.

Later defending himself, the prime minister picked on the Labour party’s leadership record.

“He talks about language, he might want to reflect on the double standards of his deputy leader calling her opponents scum, his shadow foreign secretary comparing Conservatives to Nazis, and the man that he wanted to make chancellor talking about lynching a female minister.”