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A top Tory donor who made racist comments about Diane Abbott gave a fifth of all donations to the party last year. I It highlights the difficulties faced by Rishi Sunak as calls for a cash repayment from the Conservative Party mount.
The £10,172,200 Frank Hester donated to the Conservative Party last year accounted for more than 21% of the total £48,086,402.22 the party received, according to an analysis of Electoral Commission figures.
On Wednesday, Mr Hester claimed that Mr Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving black MP, had made him want to “hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”. He resisted pressure from within his party to return the funds.
according to guardianAmong a series of other controversial comments, Mr. Hester also asked his company’s staff if there was “no room for Indians” and suggested that workers climb onto the roofs of trains.
The Scottish Conservatives said on Wednesday that the party should “consider donations carefully”, while former Conservative party leader Chris Patten said he would accept £10 million from someone who had made racist comments. suggested it was unreasonable, and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said he would return the donations. He added, “I think about the company I’ve continued to work for.”
In response to the revelation of the Conservative party’s dependence on Mr Hester, Labor Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said: I: “Frank Hester’s disgusting comments are patently racist and misogynistic and have no place in our politics.
“This person is the largest donor to the Conservative Party and is also a private donor to Rishi Sunak. Refusing to return this money means that some Tory leaflets will continue to support these offensive views. Rishi Sunak needs to pay back every penny, cut ties with Frank Hester and apologize unequivocally to Diane Abbott.”
A Conservative Party spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The data suggests that the Conservative Party could face a significant financial shortfall if it returns Mr Hester’s money or donates it to charity, with a general election likely to begin in the coming months. .
The party refuses to say whether the tycoon provided any additional cash that will be registered in the next set of accounts to be reported.
Labor is building up its own campaign coffers with millions of pounds in donations, but overall fundraising still appears to be lagging behind the Conservatives.
The Prime Minister previously accepted a helicopter ride worth £15,000 from Mr Hester, who resisted calls for the funds to be returned after pressure from Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions. “Repentance should be accepted,” he said.
The Labor leader said: ‘How low will the Prime Minister have to go, how many racist and misogynistic threats of violence will he have to make before he musters up the courage to hand back the £10 million that was taken from him? Isn’t it?” he asked.
Mr Sunak reiterated: “The gentleman has sincerely apologized for his comments and his remorse should be accepted.”
Mr Abbott himself tried to ask questions of the Prime Minister during the House of Commons, but was not asked to do so by the Speaker, sparking anger from other MPs.
She was then approached by Sir Keir and offered her support, but it has been more than six months since she was suspended for writing a letter questioning the seriousness of anti-Semitism, and he is no longer a member of the Labor Party in Parliament. He appeared to have refused her request to be allowed to try the whip again. Racism.
Number 10 declined to say whether the party would accept further donations from Mr Hester. The Prime Minister’s press secretary said more money could be taken from Mr Hester, or that Mr Sunak would accept further funding for the helicopter ride after donors had paid for the nearly £16,000 trip. When asked if this was the case, he said: “I don’t go into speculation about future events.” It was announced by the Conservative Party leader in December.
Economy Minister Kevin Hollinrake appeared to change his position during his morning media rounds, refusing to do so on BBC Radio 4. today A program that promises to accept more donations from entrepreneurs, as he had done in previous programs.
Asked whether the party would receive funding from Mr Hester in the future, the minister said: Based on what has happened in recent days, others will decide whether Mr. Hester is the right person. ”
Mr. Hester apologized for being rude to Mr. Abbott during a private meeting in 2019, but denied making any racist comments.