Not returning donation sign of a weak PM

ON Thursday last week, it was Michael Gove’s turn to do the morning media round for the Government.

On the subject of “Red Wall” seats, talk turned to our near neighbours Grimsby. Mr Gove said, “Grimsby has a brilliant MP in Lia Nici and I’m sure that he will be re-elected.” I’m not sure that Michael has ever met Lia Nici.

To be fair, it may simply have been a slip of the tongue that erroneously regendered Lia, by the man widely regarded as one of the least incompetent government ministers.

Which brings us on to the really big story of last week. Top Tory donor Frank Hester, reportedly did say those things about Diane Abbot.

He has issued a sincere and heartfelt apology for being rude to Ms Abbot. Those words weren’t rude. In my opinion, they were racist, misogynistic and, in an era when MPS are being threatened, attacked and even killed, downright dangerous.

There is no sign of the Tories returning Frank’s £10m donation. Rishi Sunak claims the apology draws a line under the issue for the major Tory donor who made his fortune from public sector contracts.

Others in the party say they can’t give it back because it’s already been spent and also, Frank can’t be a racist because he is a pal to a British-asian Prime Minister, he even gave him a free helicopter trip, for goodness sake.

This is completely infantile and the politics of the playground. The Tory party should do the right thing. Sunak did eventually condemn the comments as racist and he should

now return the donation.

Failure to do so makes him even weaker than he already appears. Peter Lowsley.