Diane Abbott has reported a Tory donor’s “frightening” feedback to police.
Frank Hester, who’s the Conservative Party’s greatest donor, allegedly stated Ms Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”. The Metropolitan Police stated they have been contacted “in relation to a report about an MP that appeared in The Guardian”, which reported the feedback.
Ms Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving Black MP, stated Mr Hester’s feedback have been “frightening” and “alarming”, particularly as two MPs – Jo Cox and Sir David Amess – have been murdered lately. She stated: “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 feedback about Diane Abbott are racist.
A Met spokesman stated: “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.
“We are assessing the matter and are liaising with West Yorkshire Police because the alleged incident is believed to have taken place in Leeds. Officers from the Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team stay involved with the MP.”
The police didn’t verify Ms Abbott made the report, nonetheless the Independent stated the previous Shadow Home Secretary lodged the police report.
Rishi Sunak has declined to say whether or not it was racist, solely 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 feedback, as reported, have been racist. I welcome his apology. Abbott and I disagree on rather a lot. But the thought of linking criticism of her, to being a black lady is appalling. It’s by no means acceptable to conflate somebody’s views with the color of their pores and 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 instructed the BBC that she “personally” finds the alleged feedback to be “racist” and have been “not something we should be kind of excusing in any way”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman stated the feedback by millionaire Tory donor Frank Hester have been “clearly unacceptable” however repeatedly refused to say whether or not they have been racist.
Mr Hester, who runs well being tech agency The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), apologised final night time following a report within the Guardian. A TPP spokesperson stated: “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 right now to attempt to apologise straight for the harm he has brought on her, and is deeply sorry for his remarks. He needs to make it clear that he regards racism as a poison which has no place in public life.”