Rishi Sunak won't say if Tory donor's comments about Diane Abbott are racist

12 March 2024 , 14:06

920     0

Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure over a racism row involving a major Tory donor (Image: PA)

Rishi Sunak has declined to say whether a Tory donor's alleged claim that Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” was racist.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the comments allegedly made by millionaire Tory donor Frank Hester were "clearly unacceptable" but repeatedly refused to say whether they were racist. Mr Hester, who runs health tech firm The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), apologised last night following a report in the Guardian, which alleged he also said the former Shadow Home Secretary “should be shot”.

Mr Hester admitted he had been rude about Ms Abbott at the private meeting in 2019 but said his criticism "had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin". Rishi Sunak is facing calls to return donations Mr Hester has made to the Tory Party, which totalled £10million last year. He donated £5million to the party individually and gave another £5million via his firm, according to the Electoral Commission.

Ms Abbott, Britain's longest-serving Black MP, said the comments were "frightening" and "alarming", especially as two MPs - Jo Cox and Sir David Amess - have been murdered in recent years. She said: "I am a single woman and that makes me vulnerable anyway. But to hear someone talking like this is worrying."

Diane Abbott is Britain's longest serving Black MP (Getty Images)

Amid a growing political storm, top Tories tied themselves in knots to defend Mr Hester. Energy minister Graham Stuart said the remarks were "ridiculous" but he would "hesitate" to describe them as racist. Cabinet minister Mel Stride said the comments were "inappropriate" but added: "I think the critical point here is I don't think what he was saying was a gender-based or a race-based comment, but it was clearly inappropriate. He has apologised and I think we need to move on from that."

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

Rishi Sunak's official spokesman said: "I wouldn't usually comment on alleged words, second-hand accounts, etc. But, as minister Stuart said this morning, what is alleged and reported to have been said is clearly unacceptable." He refused to say why they were unacceptable, adding: "I don't have anything to add beyond what minister Stuart said this morning."

But Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng, who was the UK's first Black Chancellor under Liz Truss, told the BBC: “They are clearly racist and they are clearly sexist. And I think Diane was right to point out that the call to violence, even in a flippant way, is really inappropriate. So they were very stupid remarks." He said he hadn't heard a recording of the alleged comments, but added: "Clearly what’s been reported is racist, sexist and totally unacceptable."

Keir Starmer described the allegations as "abhorrent" and said the Tories should hand back Mr Hester's donations. Speaking to ITV's Lorraine, he said: "Diane has been a trailblazer, she has paved the way for others. She has probably faced more abuse than any other politician over the years on a sustained basis.

"I'm sorry, this apology this morning which is pretending that what was said wasn't racist or anything to do with the fact that she's a woman. I don't buy that I'm afraid. I think it's time the Tory Party called it out and returned the money."

Businessman and Tory donor Frank Hester has apologised for being rude about Diane Abbott in a meeting in 2019 but denied being racist

Tory peer Lord Marland, who described himself as a friend of Mr Hester, said he wasn't racist as he did business in countries like Malaysia and Jamaica. He told LBC: "I know Frank Hester as it turns out and the first question I ask myself is 'is he a racist'? And the Frank Hester I know isn't.

"He's an international businessman, he travels widely overseas - he does a lot of a business in Jamaica, he does business in Malaysia, in Bangladesh - so he's not a racist. He made some unfortunate remarks that do sound racist, and quite rightly he's apologised for them. That's my view on the subject. My overriding thing is that he's not a racist."

According to the Guardian, which has conducted a months-long investigation into Mr Hester, he is alleged to have said during a 2019 meeting about an executive from another company: “It’s like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and you’re just like I hate, you just want to hate all black women because she’s there, and I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot.

“[The executive] and Diane Abbott need to be shot. She’s stupid … If we can get [the executive] being unprofessional we can get her sacked." He then reportedly said it "would be much better if she died".

In another 2018 meeting, the Guardian claims, he called "foreign" workers into a meeting and said although he makes "a lot of jokes about racism" he thinks it is "just the most abhorrent thing". He later called on staff to be "loving and accepting of each other". He reportedly told them that progress would not be “based on the colour of your skin, your ethnicity, where your parents are from”.

Should the Tories hand back the £10m donation? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

Richard 'shuts up' GMB guest who says Hancock 'deserved' being called 'd***head'

The Mirror has not heard the recording and cannot independently verify the alleged remarks.

TPP, which has received more than £400million in NHS and other Government contracts since 2016, told the newspaper the remarks have been "distorted".

A TPP spokesperson 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."

A Conservative spokeswoman said: "Mr Hester has made clear that while he was rude, his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor the colour of her skin. He has since apologised."

Ms Abbott, first elected as MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in 1987, has sat as an independent since April after the Labour whip was withdrawn following comments she made in The Observer suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism "all their lives".

She is awaiting the outcome of an independent complaints process set up by Labour to investigate her remarks.

Lizzy Buchan