FUNDS SAGA
Rishi Sunak slams ‘racist’ comments made by Tory millionaire donor about Diane Abbott
Frank Hester sparked fury after it emerged that he said Britain's longest serving Black MP, Diane Abbott, should be "shot"
RISHI Sunak last night hit out at “racist” comments by the Tory party’s biggest donor.
Frank Hester allegedly said looking at Diane Abbott made him "want to hate all black women".
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The PM branded the tech tycoon's remarks were “wrong” - but stopped short of vowing to hand back his £10million donation.
His spokesman had earlier refused to brand the comments racist but came under mounting pressure to harden his criticism after Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch broke ranks to use the term.
Tonight he said: “The comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong. He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown it should be accepted.
“The Prime Minister is clear there is no place for racism in public life and as the first British-Asian Prime Minister leading one of the most ethnically diverse Cabinets in our history, the UK is living proof of that fact.”
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Mr Hester sparked outrage this week after it emerged he said the UK’s longest serving black MP “should be shot” at a meeting in 2019.
At a meeting in 2019 he also commented: “I make a lot of jokes about racism, about our different creeds and cultures.
“I want to clear the air and make sure we all know where we are, what we stand for, and we take the piss out of the fact that all our Chinese girls sit together in Asian corner, which they do.”
Responding, Ms Abbott said: "It's frightening. I am a single woman and that makes me vulnerable anyway. But to hear someone talking like this is worrying.”
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Cops are understood to have been contacted in relation to Mr Hester's comments about Ms Abbott.
A Met spokesperson 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."
Ms Badenoch said: “Hester’s comments, as reported, were racist. 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.”
In an excruciating set of interviews yesterday Energy Minister Graham Stuart called the comments "uncomfortable" and admitted he was "uncomfortable talking about it now”.
But he told Times Radio: "I'm hesitating to call it racist because I don't like to sit in judgment on these things.
Mr Stuart added: “We can't cancel anybody from participation in public life, or indeed donating to parties, because they said something intemperate and wrong in their past."
Mr Hester sparked outrage this week after it emerged he said the UK’s longest serving black MP “should be shot”.
At a meeting in 2019 he also commented: “I make a lot of jokes about racism, about our different creeds and cultures.
“I want to clear the air and make sure we all know where we are, what we stand for, and we take the piss out of the fact that all our Chinese girls sit together in Asian corner, which they do.”
Responding, Ms Abbott said: "It's frightening
"I am a single woman and that makes me vulnerable anyway.
“But to hear someone talking like this is worrying.”
A spokesperson for Mr Hester said the businessman has tried to contact Ms Abbott “to apologise directly for the hurt he has caused her, and is deeply sorry for his remarks”.
Sir Keir Starmer called for the Tories to immediately return the £10m in donations they've received from the businessman.
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The Labour chief told ITV's Lorraine: "The comments about Diane Abbott are just abhorrent...
"This apology is pretending that what was said wasn't racist or anything to do with the fact she's a woman, I don't buy that I'm afraid, and I think that it's time the Tory party called it out and returned the money."
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