Diane Abbott reports Tory donor over 'hate all black women' comments to police

12 March 2024 , 18:15

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Diane Abbott said Frank Hester’s comments were 'frightening' and 'alarming' (Image: Getty Images)

Diane Abbott has reported a Tory donor's "frightening" comments to police.

Frank 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". The Metropolitan Police said they were contacted "in relation to a report about an MP that appeared in The Guardian", which reported the comments.

Ms Abbott, Britain's longest-serving Black MP, said Mr Hester’s 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."

Earlier the Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch broke ranks to say a Tory donor's vile comments about Diane Abbott are racist.

A Met spokesman said: "On Monday, 11 March officers from the Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team were contacted in relation to a report about an MP that appeared in The Guardian.

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"We are assessing the matter and are liaising with West Yorkshire Police as the alleged incident is believed to have taken place in Leeds. Officers from the Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team remain in contact with the MP."

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The police did not confirm Ms Abbott made the report, however the Independent said the former Shadow Home Secretary lodged the police report.

Rishi Sunak has declined to say whether it was racist, only saying it was "unacceptable". But Kemi Badenoch became the first Cabinet Minister to break ranks to say a Tory donor's 'hate all black women' comments about Ms Abbott are racist.

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".

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."