Badenoch breaks ranks to say Tory donor's comments about Diane Abbott are racist

12 March 2024 , 16:55

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Kemi Badenoch is the most senior MP to break ranks (Image: PA)

Kemi Badenoch has broken ranks to say a Tory donor's 'hate all black women' comments about Diane Abbott are racist.

As Business Secretary, she is the most senior MP to have broken ranks to call Frank Hester's alleged comments "racist" after the PM declined to do so. Mr Hester, who is the Conservative Party's biggest donor, allegedly said looking at Ms Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and that she "should be shot". But Rishi Sunak declined to say whether it was racist, only saying it was "unacceptable".

Ms Badenoch said: "Hester’s 2019 comments, as reported, were racist. I welcome his apology. Abbott and I disagree on a lot. But the idea of linking criticism of her, to being a black woman is appalling. It’s never acceptable to conflate someone’s views with the colour of their skin.

"MPs have a difficult job balancing multiple interests -often under threats of intimidation as we saw recently in parliament. Some people make flippant comments without thinking of this context. This is why there needs to be space for forgiveness where there is contrition."

She follows Health Minister Maria Caulfield, who told the BBC that she "personally" finds the alleged comments to be "racist" and were "not something we should be kind of excusing in any way".

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The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the comments 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.

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."

Sophie Huskisson