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- By Paul Seddon
- Politics reporter, BBC Information
A significant Tory donor has apologised after reportedly saying MP Diane Abbott made him “wish to hate all black ladies” and that she “ought to be shot”.
The Guardian reports that Frank Hester made the remarks concerning the then-shadow house secretary throughout a 2019 assembly.
Mr Hester, who runs a well being tech agency and gave the Tories £10m final 12 months, admitted making “impolite” feedback about her.
However he stated his remarks “had nothing to do together with her gender nor color of pores and skin”.
Talking within the Commons, shadow well being secretary Wes Streeting stated: “That is completely revolting, racist, and inciteful language. It has no place in our politics and public life.”
Mr Hester is the founder and chief govt of TPP, a Leeds-based firm that specialises in offering healthcare expertise.
One of many Conservative Occasion’s greatest donors, he donated £5m to the get together final 12 months, with an extra £5m donated by his firm.
In November, he gifted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak using a helicopter for a political go to, valued at £15,900, in keeping with parliamentary data.
The Guardian reported that he had made remarks about Ms Abbott whereas criticising a feminine govt at one other organisation throughout a gathering at TPP’s headquarters in 2019.
The newspaper reported that he went on to say: “It is like making an attempt to not be racist however you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and also you’re similar to I hate, you simply wish to hate all black ladies as a result of she’s there, and I do not hate all black ladies in any respect, however I believe she ought to be shot.
“[The executive] and Diane Abbott must be shot.”
On the time, Ms Abbott – who’s presently suspended as a Labour MP – was shadow house secretary beneath former chief Jeremy Corbyn.
The BBC has not heard a recording, or been in a position to independently confirm the alleged remarks.
In an announcement, TPP stated Mr Hester “accepts that he was impolite about Diane Abbot in a non-public assembly a number of years in the past however his criticism had nothing to do together with her gender nor color of pores and skin”.
It added: “The Guardian is true 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 Nineteen Seventies.
“He rang Diane Abbott twice at present to attempt to apologise instantly for the harm he has prompted 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.”
In response to a request by the BBC, a spokesperson for Mr Hester stated the assertion will not be a affirmation of the alleged quotes in The Guardian.
Responding to the story on X, previously Twitter, Ms Abbott stated she was “fairly upset” and felt “much less secure”.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats referred to as on the Conservatives to return Mr Hester’s donations.
A Conservative Occasion spokesperson stated: “Mr Hester has made clear that whereas he was impolite, his criticism had nothing to do together with her gender nor the color of her pores and skin. He has since apologised.”
Ms Abbott, first elected in 1987, served in a number of shadow cupboard roles beneath former chief Mr Corbyn.
She was suspended as a Labour MP final 12 months after saying Irish, Jewish and Traveller folks weren’t topic to racism “all their lives”. She withdrew her remarks and apologised “for any anguish prompted”.
The get together withdrew the whip, that means she now sits as an unbiased, pending an investigation.
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