- Minister denies race problem in party
- Donor apologizes for racist remarks
- Critics challenge party’s stance on race
A senior cabinet minister has refuted claims that the Conservative Party has a race-based problem despite having received a minimum of £10 million from a donor who is charged with bigotry.
Secretary of Transportation Mark Harper remarked that his cabinet was “the most ethnically diverse in history.”
Mr. Harper stated that his political party has membership “regardless of race.”
Frank Hester, a donor, issued an apology after allegedly stating that former Labour Member of Parliament Diane Abbott inspired him to “hate all black women” and that she “should be shot.”
While labelling Mr Hester’s alleged remarks as “racist” and “incorrect,” the party has declined repeated requests to reimburse his funds.
Additionally, Mr Harper declined to comment on reports that the Conservatives have accepted an additional £5 million from Mr Hester, bringing his total contribution to the party in less than a year to £15 million.
He stated on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he was not engaged in party finance but that “any future contributions will be disclosed customarily.”
Mr Harper responded unequivocally when Laura Kuenssberg inquired whether the Conservative Party has “a problem with race”: “Absolutely not.
This week, the prime minister declared that our party is honoured to be led by the first Asian prime minister of the United Kingdom.
He stated that the current cabinet is “the most diverse in ethnic composition in history.”
He stated, “Our political party welcomes individuals from all over the United Kingdom, regardless of their background or race, so long as they share our political philosophy and values.”
Mr. Harper argued that Mr. Hester’s repentance “should be accepted.”
Samuel Kasumu, a former Downing Street advisor, expressed disappointment with Mr Harper’s argument.
Mr Kasumu stated that not having the “most diverse cabinet in history” was a “get out of jail free card” about race-related issues.
The former counsel to Boris Johnson has consistently voiced dissent towards the Conservative Party’s stance on race ever since he resigned from the party in a dispute over a racism report.
As paraphrased from Martin Luther King, Mr Kasumu stated, “Instead of the colour of your skin, what matters in addressing racism, discrimination, and uniting communities is the substance of your character and your readiness to take the lead.”
According to Mr Kasumu, some of our most divisive politicians are individuals of Indian descent, such as the former home secretary Suella Braverman.
Baroness Warsi, the first Muslim chairperson of the Conservative Party, stated on Sunday that her organisation had acquired the moniker “the institutionally xenophobic and racist party.”
Baroness Warsi, who presided over the Conservative Party from 2010 to 2012, stated on Politics North, “We should not be a party that accepts contributions from individuals who hold the views that [Mr. Hester] is purported to have held.”
No longer “a problem”
In 2019, during a meeting at his company’s headquarters, Mr HMrer criticised a female executive at another organisation while making remarks about Ms Abbott.
According to the newspaper, he further stated, “It’s like trying not to be racist, but when you see Diane Abbott on television, all you can think about is how much you despise black women for the simple reason that she’s there; I don’t hate any black women, but I believe she ought to be executed.”
Mr Hester, an executive in the field of information technology, expressed regret for his “obscene” remarks regarding Ms Abbott but insisted they “had nothing to do with her gender or skin colour.”
Mr Hester later expressed his “abhorrence” for prejudice in a social media post, characterising it as a “poison that has no place in public life.”
A week of political retaliation against Mr Hester has resulted from an investigation by The Guardian, placing Ms Abbott at the centre of a discourse concerning racism in politics.
MsIn an article, Abbott, an independent MP at present, denounced bigotry within the Conservative and Labour parties.
She contends that the government’s deportation strategy in Rwanda indicates they are using “the race card” in anticipation of the upcoming election. Additionally, Ms Abbott criticised Labour, stating that “racism in politics affects more than just one political party.”
In April of last year, Labour suspended the Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington for stating in the Observer that individuals of Irish, Jewish, and Traveller descent had never been subjected to prejudice in their entire lives. She apologised “for any anguish caused” and subsequently recanted her remarks.
Harriet Harman, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party, stated on the programme that Mr Harper’s remarks demonstrated that “a problem” persisted.
She stated, “You must acknowledge that despite the progress made by black people and women in politics, there is still an even greater backlash that people are experiencing.”
Combating discrimination runs the risk of fostering complacency.
Ms Harman further stated that the Conservatives’ “reluctance” to censure Mr Hester and return his contributions was “because they’ve accepted such a substantial sum of money.”
She stated, however, that Labour “certainly has more work to do” in anti-racism efforts.
Ms. Harman remarked, “Who would assert that there is no issue? “We must acknowledge that this has been a truly evil and terrible problem.”
“Unlock your financial potential with free Webull shares in the UK.”
Jonathan Ashworth, minister of the shadow cabinet, stated that the Labour Party “must not be complacent regarding racism; we must combat it.
He added that if we observe Islamophobia and antisemitism in our party, we must combat them just as we do in society as a whole.
