Downing Street Under Attack Over "Lacking" Race Row Response

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure to improve his tactics for handling a crisis as Conservative MPs and party figures complained that the Frank Hester race row was the latest example of Downing Street's inability to dig itself out of a hole.

Hester, the Conservative party's biggest donor, said Diane Abbott, the UK's longest serving black MP, "should be shot" and that the MP made him "want to hate all black women" in a meeting five years ago, according to The Guardian.

Initially the Prime Minister's official spokesperson described the remarks as "unacceptable" rather than racist, while senior Tories resisted calls from broadcasters to explicitly condemn the comments in such terms. It was not until many hours later, after several prominent Conservatives — including Kemi Badenoch, the Secretary State for Business and Trade — characterised the donor's remarks as racist that Downing Street hardened their line. 

Conservative figures are now deeply frustrated that the episode represents the latest example of Downing Street failing to get a grip on a crisis and eclipsing any positive messages they desperately need to get across to voters. As well as finding themselves engulfed in a racism row, Conservative MPs fear that the economy and Sunak's plans to tackle extremism have taken a back seat. 

Albie Amankona, chief executive and co-founder of Conservatives Against Racism, told PoliticsHome he was frustrated that Tory high command appeared to repeatedly struggle with its communications operation when incidents involving race arose.  

"I don't know why it keeps happening. It's not like there are not people that do take the correct line when this sort of thing happens," Amankona said. 

"They have this ridiculous line of 'it