In a heated session of Prime Minister’s Questions, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, now British Prime Minister as of October 2022, was under fire for defending a Tory donor who had made racist remarks towards MP Diane Abbott. The donor, identified as Frank Hester, faced scrutiny for comments made in 2019, which he later apologized for, stating they were not intended to be about Abbott’s gender or race. Despite his apology, there were calls, notably from SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, for Sunak to return the donor’s £10 million contribution, accusing Sunak of choosing money over morals. Sunak’s defense was rooted in the donor’s apology and highlighted his Cabinet’s diversity as a testament to positive race relations in Britain.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Sunak of being evasive on issues of extremism within his party and criticized the government’s financial policies, notably mentioning a £46 billion plan to scrap national insurance contributions, which Starman labeled as “completely unfunded.” Starmer raised concerns about the potential impact on essential services or the need for increased taxes or borrowing.

The controversy surrounding Sunak’s response to the comments directed at Abbott and the debate over the government’s economic decisions underscore the prevailing tensions in UK politics. With the backdrop of upcoming general elections and the scrutiny of the Conservative Party’s handling of both financial and moral challenges, these episodes reflect deep-seated issues of race, respect, and fiscal responsibility within the political sphere.