The Scottish Conservatives are seeking clarity on unconfirmed reports of an additional £5 million donation from Frank Hester to the UK Conservative Party, adding to his previous £10 million contribution. This inquiry, highlighted by Scottish Tory deputy leader Meghan Gallacher, follows concerns over alleged derogatory comments made by Hester about Labour MP Diane Abbott. The UK Conservative Party has not denied the possibility of a new donation, noting that all contributions will be disclosed by the Electoral Commission in due course.

In separate but related news, Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner advocates for Diane Abbott’s reinstatement as a Labour MP and calls for an apology to Abbott for the racism she faced. Abbott has been serving as an independent since the removal of the Labour whip in April, following her apology for certain remarks. There are growing calls within the Labour party for the whip to be restored, amid debates over the party’s complaint procedures and approach to racism.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces pressure from within his party to return the contentious £5m donation from Hester. Across the realm of UK politics, concerns about the safety of MPs have been spotlighted, with Michael Gove’s proposals to counter extremism meeting criticism for potentially falling short of protecting public servants.

Additionally, UK General Practitioners are demanding the resignation of Frank Hester from The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), a major provider of electronic patient records, over his comments about Abbott. The British Medical Association’s general practice committee vehemently declared such remarks as incompatible with NHS values, emphasizing the medical community’s stance against racism and sexism.

These unfolding events reflect ongoing debates and actions concerning political donations, party dynamics, and the broader issues of racism, sexism, and safety within the UK political and medical spheres.