Michael Gove says he is inclined to “exercise Christian forgiveness” when it comes to alleged remarks a Tory donor made about former Labour MP Diane Abbott.

Earlier this week, the Guardian reported that businessman Frank Hester told his staff Ms Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and “should be shot”.

The comments about the MP have been deemed “racist and wrong” by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as opposition politicians.

But while the businessman said he was “deeply sorry” for the words, he insisted they were “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.

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Speaking to Sky News’ Wilfred Frost, Mr Gove, the communities secretary, said Mr Hester had made “a genuine apology”, and he believed he had “shown real contrition” over the alleged remarks.

“It’s important to recognise… the government that we have is the most diverse in the Western world, and Mr Hester was giving money in order to support a British Asian prime minister, so I think it is important to put that in context,” he said.

“But again, it’s right that Mr Hester should be called out for his words and it is also right that he should apologise. I understand that he has and shown full contrition.”

Pushed by Wilfred Frost on whether the apology could be genuine if the Tory donor did not accept the alleged comments were racist and misogynistic, Mr Gove said: “I think that when someone says they are sorry – and I understand he’s deeply sorry for these remarks – then my natural inclination is to exercise Christian forgiveness.”

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