Question Time Panellist Claims Frank Hester Gave Tories A ‘Blank Cheque For Racism’

Broadcaster Ayesha Hazarika instructed the Conservatives’ lacklustre response to the row round donor Frank Hester was akin to a “clean cheque for racism” on BBC Query Time final night time.

Hester – who donated £10 million to the Conservative Get together final yr – is going through intense an backlash after the Guardian reported he as soon as mentioned MP Diane Abbott “made him wish to hate all Black ladies” and “needs to be shot”.

The Tories haven’t handed again the cash, regardless of rising strain to take action.

It additionally emerged yesterday that Hester has given the occasion one other £5m which has but to be declared.

Directing her anger at fellow panellist Lee Rowley, the minister for housing, Hazarika mentioned: “This man is a disgusting racist, he’s bankrolling the Conservative Get together – will you give that cash again?”

An enormous spherical of applause broke out at that.

Hazarika additionally slammed the federal government’s defence of Hester, saying: “While you say he apologised, he didn’t even recognise his abhorrent, horrifying racism.

“He mentioned he had simply been a bit impolite – he wouldn’t even settle for that.

“If you’ll be preaching to the nation about extremism, it’s a must to put your cash actually the place your mouth is.”

The federal government unveiled a brand new definition for extremism yesterday, describing it because the “promotion or development of an ideology primarily based on violence, hatred or intolerance”.

PM Rishi Sunak has known as Hester’s feedback “racist and unsuitable” however has repeatedly defended him by mentioning the donor did apologise.

Nonetheless, the donor has solely mentioned sorry for being “impolite” about Abbott.

Rowley, responded to Hazarika’s criticism by saying: “During this, there are totally different MPs and totally different folks in political life who make feedback which are unsuitable.”

“Who has mentioned that they’re going to shoot any individual?” Hazarika reduce in.

Rowley ignored that and referred again to former Labour frontbencher John McDonnell’s 2016 feedback that Tory Esther McVey was a “stain on humanity”.

The minister continued: “As a society we’ve a broader query to reply about whether or not we settle for folks which are contrite, they nonetheless have issues to do.”

He additionally mentioned he didn’t assume the Conservatives have been handing again the donation.

“So mainly £15 million offers you a clean cheque for racism,“Hazarika mentioned – prompting an enormous spherical of applause from the viewers.

“Disgrace on you,” she added.

“That’s completely not true,” the minister reduce in.

He mentioned subsequent time any individual within the Labour Get together says one thing “incorrect”, “I hope and sit up for you completely placing them out of public life ceaselessly”.

Then host Fiona Bruce supplied up Hester’s response to all of those accusations, noting he has apologised for being impolite and mentioned he abhors all types of racism – prompting laughter from the viewers.

Elsewhere within the programme, a member of the viewers additionally obtained a sturdy spherical of applause after he described Hester’s alleged feedback as “extremism”.

He mentioned: “If that’s not extremism, I don’t know what’s.

“I’m additionally fascinated with the numerous Black ladies, Black women, who hear that on TV, and that’s an enormous safeguarding situation.

“What is going to that lady assume, that she’s not accepted within the society that we reside in?

“I used to be not shocked, that’s how unhappy it’s that we’re getting used to that, however I used to be indignant and I hope we shield Diane Abbott in any respect prices.”