Fury at Diane Abbott snub in PMQs debate on Tory donor's racist comment
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is facing questions over his decision not to let Diane Abbott speak in a fiery PMQs session that centred on a Tory donor's racist comments about her.
In a fiery exchange, Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, Westminster SNP leader Stephen Flynn and other MPs all had an opportunity to comment on businessman Frank Hester allegedly saying that seeing Ms Abbott on TV made him "want to hate all Black women". He also allegedly said she should be "shot" in a meeting in 2019 reported by the Guardian.
Ms Abbott, who repeatedly stood during the session in a bid to catch Sir Lindsay's eye, was not selected to ask a question to the PM. After the session Ms Abbott said: "I don't know whose interests the Speaker thinks he is serving. But it is not the interests of the Commons or democracy."
The Labour leader and Mr Flynn both went over to speak to a frustrated-looking Ms Abbott at the end of PMQs. Ms Abbott, who is currently suspended from Labour, confirmed she told Mr Starmer he could restore the whip when he asked her if there was anything he could do. In response, Mr Starmer said: "I understand."
During PMQs, Labour MP Stella Creasy said there would be "something very wrong" if Ms Abbott's voice was not heard when others debated about her. "Right now Diane Abbott is standing to ask a question in Prime ministers questions," she said. "As her safety is debated by others. Something very wrong if her voice isn’t heard today…"
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Labour MP Charlotte Nichols said Ms Abbott not being chosen "was really poor". "If Diane wanted to speak, rather than being spoken for and about, she should have been given the opportunity to," she said.
Left-wing pressure group Momentum said: "It was a shocking failure from the Speaker to pick Diane Abbott for a question at PMQs, despite her repeated attempts." It pointed out that the Speaker had recently broken protocol over an SNP motion due to concerns about MPs safety.
A spokesman for Mr Starmer said: "Obviously, we respect whatever decisions the Speaker makes. My understanding is the Speaker didn't get through the order paper of all of the questions that had already been balloted to be selected for today. But I do think it would have been good for the House to have had the opportunity to hear from Diane Abbott today."
A spokeswoman for the Speaker defended the decision and explained that due to PMQs' processes "there was not enough time to call all Members who wanted to ask a question". She said: "During Prime Minister’s Questions, the Speaker must select MPs from either side of the House on an alternating basis for fairness.
"This takes place within a limited time frame, with the Chair prioritising Members who are already listed on the Order Paper. This week - as is often the case - there was not enough time to call all Members who wanted to ask a question.”
During PMQs, Labour MP Marsha de Cordova challenged Mr Sunak to give back money donated by Mr Hester. She said: "The Prime Minister stood outside Downing Street saying that he wanted to root out hate and extremism, yet it shamefully took him more than 24 hours to finally say the remarks by the Tories' biggest donor - that looking at (Diane Abbott) makes you want to hate all black women - were indeed racist.
"In November the Prime Minister accepted a non-cash donation to the tune of £15,000 from Frank Hester for the use of his helicopter. So will he reimburse him, yes or no?"
Mr Sunak replied: "No and I'm pleased that the gentleman is supporting a party that represents one of the most diverse governments in this country's history led by this country's first British-Asian Prime Minister."
In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson from Mr Hester's company The Phoenix Partnership said: "Frank Hester accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbott in a private meeting several years ago but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin. The Guardian is right when it quotes Frank saying he abhors racism, not least because he experienced it as the child of Irish immigrants in the 1970’s.
"He rang Diane Abbott twice today to try to apologise directly for the hurt he has caused her, and is deeply sorry for his remarks. He wishes to make it clear that he regards racism as a poison which has no place in public life."
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Ms Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, has sat as an independent since April after Labour withdrew the whip following comments over the Jewish, Irish and Traveller communities. She is awaiting the outcome of an investigation.
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