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Sir Keir Starmer claimed the Conservative party is being “bankrolled” by someone using “racist” language during a fiery Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 13 March.The Labour leader’s comments came in the wake of a continuing row over a Tory donor’s alleged comments about Diane Abbott.Frank Hester, who donated £10m to the Tories last year, allegedly made a series of incendiary comments about the MP, including that she made him “want to hate all Black women”.A statement from Mr Hester’s firm said he “accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbott… but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin.” More

A Tory donor’s alleged comments about Diane Abbott were “racist” but they “don’t necessarily mean he’s a racist,” Kevin Hollindrake has said.The Conservative minister told Sky News on Wednesday (13 March): “His comments were clearly racist and wrong… I don’t think that means Frank Hester is necessarily a racist.”Mr Hester, who donated £10m to the Tories last year, allegedly made a series of incendiary comments about the MP, including that she made him “want to hate all Black women”.A statement from Mr Hester’s firm said he “accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbott… but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin.” More

Ed Balls accused a Tory minister of “smearing” him during a heated conversation about a Tory donor’s alleged remarks about Diane Abbott.Graham Stuart appeared on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday (12 March), discussing Frank Hester after he was alleged to have said the MP “should be shot.”The energy minister appeared to enrage the former Labour MP by saying: “If every quote you ever said about Tories got taken out of context and plastered all over the television, you could be made to look pretty vile as well.”Mr Balls responded: This is not the normal political mockabout… Don’t just smear me.” More

**_If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offer support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch._**Dame Esther Rantzen made a powerful plea for assisted dying to become law during a phone call with Sir Keir Starmer.The broadcaster and campaigner, who has terminal cancer, has previously expressed her wish for an assisted death.She told the Labour leader during a phone call with ITV News on Tuesday (12 March): “What I do not want is my family’s last memory of me to be painful and for me to be begging to be assisted in dying.”Sir Keir Starmer said that he wants assisted dying to be legalised after the next election and said he is “personally committed” to a change in the law. More

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