Rishi Sunak is facing a Tory meltdown after finally declaring a major donor’s Diane Abbott comments ‘racist and wrong’.
Frank Hester, who is believed to have given the party £10million, is alleged to have said Ms Abbott made him ‘want to hate all black women’ and that she ‘should be shot’.
Downing Street issued a statement last night describing the remarks as ‘racist’, despite sending ministers out hours earlier to argue they were not.
The PM’s position had come under pressure when Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch broke ranks to say they were racist.
Rishi Sunak (pictured) is facing a Tory meltdown after finally declaring a major donor’s Diane Abbott comments ‘racist and wrong’
Frank Hester, who is believed to have given the party £10million, is alleged to have said Ms Abbott made him ‘want to hate all black women’ and that she ‘should be shot’
Ms Abbott is a former shadow home secretary, but sits as an independent MP after being stripped of the Labour whip
Hester issued a statement on X in which he said he was ‘deeply sorry for his remarks’ – but denied that his criticism had anything to do with her gender or the colour of her skin
Meanwhile, the Guardian has published fresh claims that Mr Hester asked at another meeting in 2019 if there was ‘no room for Indians’ in the room and suggested they could ‘climb on the roof, like on the roof of the train’.
Mr Hester has admitted making ‘rude’ comments about Ms Abbott, but claimed they had ‘nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin’.
In a new statement issued just before 7pm, the PM’s spokesman 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.’
Tories have voiced anger that it took so long for the premier to take a clear position on the issue.
Conservative West Midlands Mayor Andy Street also this morning joined opposition parties in demanding that the £10million donated by Mr Hester to the Conservative Party over the past year is returned.
In a round of interviews this morning, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake insisted that would not happen. ‘I don’t think we are giving the money back, no.’
Mr Hollinrake told Sky News: ‘I think his comments were clearly racist and wrong, there is no question about that. You don’t judge somebody’s character based on their skin colour.
‘He has apologised for that. I don’t think that means Frank Hester is necessarily a racist.’
Asked whether he would be comfortable spending Mr Hester’s donations, Mr Hollinrake said: ‘On the basis he is not a racist, has apologised for what he said, yes.’
Mr Sunak faces Keir Starmer at PMQs later, with speculation that the issue will be raised.
According to the Guardian, Mr Hester, the chief executive of healthcare software firm The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), asked if there was ‘no room for the Indians’ and suggested staff climb on a train roof during a crowded meeting.
The PM’s position had come under pressure when Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch (pictured) broke ranks to say they were racist
Senior Tories had declined to describe the comments as racist – until trade secretary Kemi Badenoch broke ranks to criticise them on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday
He has admitted making ‘rude’ comments about Ms Abbott, but claimed they had ‘nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin’.
In a statement posted on X yesterday afternoon, Mr Hester said: ‘The UK benefits immensely from the rich diversity of people – like my parents – who had roots in another land, religion and culture.
‘We should celebrate those differences which have made us the world’s most successful multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy.
‘And we should have the confidence to discuss our differences openly and even playfully without seeking to cause offence.’
Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said the Conservatives ‘must apologise unequivocally to Diane Abbott, pay back these donations and root out the extreme views and prejudice which appears to be tolerated within the party.’
Ministers sent out on Tuesday’s morning media round had defended Mr Hester while Number 10 said the reported remarks about Ms Abbott were ‘unacceptable’, but would not describe them as racist.
That stance was maintained until Business Secretary Ms Badenoch called out Mr Hester’s alleged words as racist late in the afternoon.
Ms Abbott herself said the reported comments were ‘frightening’ and ‘alarming’ given that two MPs – Jo Cox and Sir David Amess – had been murdered in recent years.
Police are understood to have been contacted about the remarks, with Scotland Yard saying officers from its Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team were in touch with an MP about a report in The Guardian, which broke the story.
