Both Tory and Labour MPs have been calling for a May general election, which has fallen on the Prime Minister’s deaf ears until he finally announced his decision on whether to let the public decide his fate in Spring.
Sunak’s May Election Announcement
After multiple allegations of Islamophobia and racism slamming those involved in the Tory Party in recent weeks, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has finally announced his decision on a May election. Sunak came under fire most recently for his response to the revelation that a Tory donor had wished death upon a black, former Labour MP back in 2019.
It took Sunak over 24 hours to condemn Tory donor Frank Hester’s comments about Labour’s Diane Abbott, saying they were “racist” but accepted Hester’s “remorse.”
The comments in question allegedly occurred in a meeting in 2019, when Hester said that Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and insisted “she should be shot.”
Sunak Announces Election Response
This incident was coupled with multiple other incidents of racism in the Tory Party, but Sunak insists that no general election will be held in May. This announcement disappointed some opposition MPs who anticipated a potential change in government before the summer.
Despite calls from some Conservative MPs for a May election, Sunak responded “there won’t be an election” when asked if he would call a snap election on May 2nd.
According to some Conservative MPs, Sunak could face the humiliating blow of losing his seat as Tory Party leader if he waits until the Autumn for a general election.
Conservatives Accept £10 Million
Labour MPs, including leader Sir Keir Starmer, have scolded the Conservatives for not returning a £10 million donation from Frank Hester after his racist comments were revealed.
Labour MP Anneliese Dodds said that the comments made were “deeply disturbing” and insisted “Anything less than returning the money will be a stain on the Conservative party.”
Diane Abbott herself claimed she was “frightened” by the comments, citing two murders of MPs in the last year alone from members of the public.
Sunak “Failing” Test
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer questioned Sunak’s judgement for accepting the money, arguing “It’s a test for Rishi Sunak. He’s failing that test,” he said.
Starmer argued that it “raises serious questions about what his real motivation is in clinging on to that money,” suggesting the Tories are putting “money” over “morales.”
Other Tory MPs have been accused of Islamophobia in recent weeks, with former Tory MP Lee Anderson defecting to the right-wing Party, Reform UK, after his comments.
Anderson insisted in an interview that he believed the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, had allowed himself and London to become under the “control” of “Islamists.” The MP was suspended by the Tory Party, although both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Deputy PM Oliver Dowden refrained from calling his comments “Islamophobic.”
Anderson was echoing former Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s comments, when she argued that “Islamists,” “Extremists” and “antisemites” were “in charge of Britain.”
Prime Minister Slams Protests
Despite the Prime Minister’s refusal to condemn this divisive rhetoric in his own party, Sunak called an emergency address where he called pro-Palestine protests “divisive” and “extremist.”
When asked whether they believed there was a racism problem within their party, Sunak, Communities Secretary Michael Gove and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt all cited the “first British-Asian Prime Minister” as proof that the Party doesn’t have a racism issue.
Its comments like these from Tory figures such as Anderson, Braverman and Hester, which have led to the demise of the Tory Party and a loss in public confidence as seen in recent polls, but Sunak still refrains from holding an election.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Aidan Calderbank.