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Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake has said he would accept another £10 million donation from top Tory donor Frank Hester.Mr Hester allegedly made a series of incendiary comments about Labour MP Diane Abbott including that she made him “want to hate all Black women”.BBC Breakfast presenter Jon Kay today (13 March) today asked Mr Hollinrake: “If Frank Hester, today, offered to give the Tory Party another £10m, would you take it?Mr Hollinrake replied: “On the basis that he is not racist, yes.” More

George Galloway hit out at Labour and the Conservatives in his first House of Commons speech on returning to parliament, claiming most people “feel a wish for a plague on both their houses”.The leader of the Workers Party of Britain criticised the chancellor’s Budget as an “absolute nothing burger” which would not help Rochdale, the town he now represents.In his first Commons outing since he swore the oath of allegiance to the King and took his seat, Mr Galloway also paid tribute to his Labour predecessor Sir Tony Lloyd, whose death from cancer triggered the by-election which led to his victory. More

The Labour party is “very concerned” about Diane Abbott after alleged remarks made by a Tory donor towards her, shadow women and equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds said.Frank Hester said he is “deeply sorry” after reportedly saying in 2019 the MP made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.The chief executive of The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) admitted making “rude” comments but said they had “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.”We’re very concerned about the impact of this on Dianne Abott,” Ms Dodds told Sky News on Tuesday, 12 March. More

Michelle Donelan apologised for publicly posting a letter on social media falsely suggesting an academic had expressed sympathy for Hamas, saying she was sorry for the “distraction” caused by the false claim that cost the taxpayer £15,000.The science secretary later retracted her comments about Professor Kate Sang, who sits on the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) advisory group, and agreed to pay her damages.Ms Donelan posted a letter to UKRI on X/Twitter expressing “disgust and outrage” that the academic and Dr Kamna Patel had “shared extremist views”.Ms Donelan later accepted there was “no evidence” of her allegations. More

Sir Keir Starmer must support Diane Abbott and restore the Labour whip after a Tory donor’s alleged remarks, Dawn Butler said.Frank Hester said he is “deeply sorry” after reportedly saying in 2019 the MP made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.The chief executive of The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) admitted making “rude” comments but said they had “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.Ms Abbott had the whip withdrawn immediately after suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism “all their lives” in a letter to the Observer, and apologised.Sir Keir said told ITV’s Lorraine: “The comments about Diane Abbott are just abhorrent.” More

Graham Stuart has said he welcomes “all those who support the Conservative Party” when asked whether the Tories should return money donated by Frank Hester.Mr Stuart made his comments after the major Tory donor allegedly said former Labour MP Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women”.He told Sky News on Tuesday (12 March): “We can’t cancel anybody from participation in public life, or indeed donating to parties, because they said something intemperate and wrong in their past.“It’s not my decision, but I do welcome those who support the Conservative Party.” More

Lee Anderson has been likened to a “Midlands version” of former US president Donald Trump.The MP, who was suspended by the Conservative Party after refusing to apologise for claims Islamists had “control” of London mayor Sadiq Khan, announced his defection to Reform UK on Monday (11 March).He announced his switch to the Nigel Farage-linked right-wing populist party at a press conference alongside party leader Richard Tice and said: “I will start by saying I want my country back”.A voter in Mr Anderson’s Ashfield constituency likened him to Mr Trump in an LBC call-in on Monday.Caller Ceclia said: “I think Lee Anderson is a Midlands version of Donald Trump. He is interested in nobody.” More

Watch as members of the public in Lee Anderson’s constituency of Ashfield react to his defection to Reform UK on Monday 11 March.The MP was suspended by the Conservative Party recently after refusing to apologise for claims Islamists had “control” of London mayor Sadiq Khan.He announced his switch to the Nigel Farage-linked right-wing populist party at a press conference alongside party leader Richard Tice.“I will start by saying I want my country back,” Mr Anderson said.He added that he is prepared to gamble on himself and that his mailbag is full of people in the UK who support his new party. More