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A Conservative donor reportedly said Diane Abbott “made me want to hate all black women” and said she “should be shot.” Conservative party leaders have condemned his comments as “racist”.
A new row has erupted within the party after senior ministers and Downing Street refused to label comments by Frank Hester, who donated £10 million to the Conservative Party, as racist.
I It is understood Conservative MPs have also raised concerns about the comments and the party leadership’s failure to label him as a racist with the party whip.
Pensions Secretary Mel Stride further stoked tensions by saying it was time to “move on” from the incident and said the language was “inappropriate” but not “based on gender or race”.
However, former Prime Minister Kwasi Kwarteng rejected such claims, telling the BBC: “They’re obviously racist, they’re obviously sexist, and I think Diane was right to call for violence. Even in a flippant way, it’s really disgusting. So they… That was a very stupid statement.”
Kwarteng said he did not know whether the comments were actually made and warned the media against jumping to conclusions before the full facts are known.
But he added: “It is clear that what is being reported is racist, sexist and clearly unacceptable.”
Baroness Warsi accused her Conservative colleagues of trying to draw a red line on the issue and demanded that the party repay the money donated by Mr Hester.
On X/Twitter she commented: “‘We need to move on’ is my colleagues’ response to even more vile racism coming from the Conservative Party.
“The comments about Diane Abbott are awful and need to be condemned by the Prime Minister and the donations returned.”
It added: “Elections funded by donors who make racist and offensive statements create dangerous campaigns.”
Former Conservative Party leader Lord Hague said Mr Hester’s apology for his comments should be taken into account, but insisted the comments were racist.
He told Times Radio: “His comments do seem to be racist. I honestly don’t think you can deny that. I don’t know him, but I hope he doesn’t apologize enough. I know what I did.
“This person is clearly someone who has learned a lesson about settings like this. But…this comment linking hatred for Diane Abbott to racial characteristics is, well, racist.”
Conservative MPs angry at the handling of the issue took the matter to the whip’s office, a senior backbencher said. I: “Most Conservative MPs would think: [the comments] It’s disgusting and racist. ”
Ms Abbott, the first black woman elected to parliament, said the situation was “horrifying”.
“I live in Hackney, but because I don’t drive, I find myself taking the bus and walking more places than most MPs on weekends. I’m a single woman. So it’s vulnerable anyway.
“But it’s worrying to hear someone talking like this…The fact that two members of Congress have been murdered in recent years makes stories like this even more alarming.
“Although I am not currently a Labor MP, I remain a member of the Labor Party itself and I look forward to public support from Keir Starmer.”
Labor Party member Shami Chakrabarti told BBC World at One: “She’s anxious and upset but she’s putting on a brave face like always to not worry her friends. My heart is pounding and she’s really upset on her behalf.” doing
“I listened to ministerial interviews and was completely horrified that they wouldn’t call it what it is. If they don’t call it at that level, then they’re somehow getting a license.”
Mr Hester, chief executive of healthcare software company The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), acknowledged that he had made “disrespectful” comments about Ms Abbott, but said they had “nothing to do with her gender or the color of her skin”. It has nothing to do with it,” he claimed.
guardian At an internal meeting in 2019, he reportedly said the following. “I try not to be racist, but when I see Diane Abbott on TV, it’s like… I want to hate all black women just because of her.
“I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot.”
In a statement released through his office, Mr. Hester said he called Mr. Hester. abbot on Monday to “apologize directly for the hurt he caused her.”
“Frank Hester admits that he made rude remarks to Diane Abbott (sic) in a private meeting several years ago, but his criticisms have nothing to do with her gender or the color of her skin.” There was no relationship between the parties,” the statement said.
“He wants to make clear that he considers racism a poison that has no place in public life.”