Tories refuse handy again £10million from donor in Diane Abbott race row

A Tory Minister has refused to say if the occasion ought to hand again money from certainly one of its largest donors after he allegedly mentioned seeing Diane Abbott on TV made him “want to hate all black women”.

Millionaire businessman Frank Hester apologised final evening following a report within the Guardian, which alleged he additionally mentioned the previous Shadow Home Secretary “should be shot”. Mr Hester, who runs well being tech agency TPP, admitted he was impolite about Ms Abbott on the non-public assembly in 2019 however mentioned his criticism “had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.

Rishi Sunak is dealing with calls to return donations Mr Hester has made to the Tory Party, which totalled £10million final yr. He donated £5million to the occasion individually and gave one other £5million through his agency, in keeping with the Electoral Commission.

Tory Minister Graham Stuart refused to say if the cash ought to be handed again as he tried to downplay the row in a collection of broadcast interviews. He instructed Sky News the alleged remarks had been “clearly reprehensible”, “truly awful”, and Mr Hester was “absolutely right to apologise”.

But requested if the Conservatives ought to return his donation, Mr Stuart mentioned: “It’s obviously deeply regrettable but 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. It’s not my decision, but I do welcome those who support the Conservative Party to ensure that we have Rishi Sunak, of course, our first Hindu Prime Minister.”

Asked whether or not he would welcome donations from individuals who had made comparable feedback, he mentioned: “I’m saying that I welcome those who contribute and I’m not here to sit in judgment on one remark.” He later instructed the Today programme the remarks had been made “half a decade ago”.

Cabinet minister Mel Stride mentioned: “What is clear (is) that what he said was inappropriate. He has, as I understand it, apologised for those remarks. I think the critical point here is I don’t think what he was saying was a gender-based or a race-based comment, but it was clearly inappropriate. He has apologised and I think we need to move on from that.”

Keir Starmer mentioned the feedback had been “abhorrent” and says he does not purchase the concept the remarks weren’t racist. Speaking to ITV’s Lorraine, he mentioned: “Diane has been a trailblazer, she has paved the way for others. She has probably faced more abuse than any other politician over the years on a sustained basis.

“I’m sorry, this apology this morning which is pretending that what was mentioned wasn’t racist or something to do with the truth that she’s a lady. I do not purchase that I’m afraid. “I think it’s time the Tory Party called it out and returned the money.”

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain mentioned: “Graham Stuart’s refusal to name out these racist feedback was merely jaw-dropping. The Conservative Party has flat out refused to return these donations regardless of these feedback being inexcusable. How low are you able to go?

“Rishi Sunak can bunker down and hide in Downing Street as long as he wants but every day he doesn’t return this money is another damning blow to the Conservative Party’s credibility.”

According to the Guardian, which has performed a months-long investigation into Mr Hester, he mentioned throughout a 2019 assembly about an government from one other firm: “It’s like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and you’re just like I hate, you just want to hate all black women because she’s there, and I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot.

“[The executive] and Diane Abbott need to be shot. She’s stupid … If we can get [the executive] being unprofessional we can get her sacked.” He then reportedly said it “would be much better if she died”.

In another 2018 meeting, the Guardian claims, he called “foreign” workers into a meeting and said although he makes “a lot of jokes about racism” he thinks it is “just the most abhorrent thing”. He later called on staff to be “loving and accepting of each other”. He reportedly told them that progress would not be “based on the colour of your skin, your ethnicity, where your parents are from”.

The Mirror has not heard the recording and can’t independently confirm the alleged remarks.

TPP, which has acquired greater than £400million in NHS and different Government contracts since 2016, instructed the newspaper the remarks have been “distorted”.

A TPP spokesperson said: “Frank Hester accepts that he was impolite about Diane Abbott in a personal assembly a number of years in the past however his criticism had nothing to do along with her gender nor color of pores and skin. The Guardian is correct when it quotes Frank saying he abhors racism, not least as a result of he skilled it because the little one of Irish immigrants within 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.”

A Conservative spokeswoman mentioned: “Mr Hester has made clear that while he was rude, his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor the colour of her skin. He has since apologised.”