Michael Gove suggests Tory donor’s comments would not be deemed ‘extremist’

Michael Gove has suggested a Tory donor’s alleged call for an MP to be “shot” would not be referred to the Government’s new extremism taskforce.

Businessman Frank Hester is alleged to have said that Diane Abbott, Britain’s first black female MP, made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”, in comments the Prime Minister described as “racist” after initially refusing to do so.

Cabinet minister Mr Gove described the remarks as “horrific” but said he was exercising “Christian forgiveness” after the entrepreneur had “shown contrition”.

It came as Mr Gove unveiled the Government’s new definition of extremism on Thursday.

It describes extremism as “the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance” that aims to “negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others” or “undermine, overturn or replace the UK’s system of liberal parliamentary democracy and democratic rights”.

Speaking ahead of a speech to the Commons, Mr Gove said it was not up to him to rule whether Mr Hester’s words were extremist.

“It is important that any decision about individuals and organisations is taken after a rigorous assessment of evidence and a consistent pattern of behaviour,” he told Times Radio, saying an “expert team of civil servants” would be running that process.

He went on to indicate that “an individual comment” would not be enough to be examined by the team.

The senior Tory told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We have to be clear, we’re looking at organisations with a particular ideology.

“The individual concerned said something that was horrific.

“I wouldn’t want to conflate those motivated by extremist ideology with an individual comment, however horrific, which has quite rightly been called out and which has quite rightly led to an apology.”

Mr Gove noted that he took “these issues incredibly seriously” as someone who was targeted by an extremist who went on to kill Sir David Amess MP.

Rishi Sunak echoed Mr Gove’s sentiment, suggesting Mr Hester’s comments would not fall under the new extremism definition that deals with “organisations that the Government engages with”.

“It’s important that these things are done in an objective and considered manner, evidence-based,” the Prime Minister told reporters during a visit to Gloucestershire.

“And this is about organisations that the Government engages with and making sure that those organisations are not ones that we would consider to be not supporting British values, undermining our democracy.”

Amid continuing calls for the Tories to return the £10 million Mr Hester has donated to the party, Mr Sunak and Mr Gove reiterated that his apology should be accepted.

The Prime Minister said: “When someone has expressed genuine remorse or contrition for what they’ve done, which he has, it’s the right thing to do to accept that.”

Asked whether the businessman’s apology was genuine if he did not acknowledge his remarks were racist, Mr Gove told Sky News: “I haven’t spoken to Mr Hester, but I think that when someone says that they are sorry, and I understand he’s deeply sorry for these remarks, then my natural inclination is to exercise Christian forgiveness.”

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Frank Hester’s alleged remarks were hateful and racist, and suggested that an MP should be shot. With all their talk of stamping out extremism, the Conservative Party’s refusal to hand back his £10 million donation is completely untenable.

“The Conservative Party need to confirm if they will adopt the Government’s new definition of extremism. If they do, that would surely leave them with no choice but to return this tainted money. If not, it shows once again that it’s one rule for them and one rule for us.”

Ms Abbott, who has called Mr Hester’s comments “frightening”, has accused the Conservatives and Labour of failing to tackle racism.

In newspaper articles on Wednesday, she said the “reluctance to call out racism and sexism” was “shocking, but hardly surprising”, and warned the Conservatives would “play the race card… ruthlessly” at the next election.