Britain’s governing Conservative Party is facing pressure to return over 10 million pounds to a donor who allegedly made derogatory remarks about Diane Abbott, a prominent lawmaker. The donor, Frank Hester, reportedly said that Abbott “should be shot” and that looking at her made him “want to hate all Black women.” The comments were made in 2019 during a meeting at his company’s offices, The Phoenix Partnership. Hester has apologized but has not confirmed the specifics of what he said.
Hester acknowledged being rude about Abbott in a private meeting several years ago but claimed his criticism was not based on her gender or race. He stated that he had reached out to Abbott to apologize and expressed regret for his remarks, emphasizing that he condemns racism.
According to The Guardian, Hester’s comments during the meeting included a statement about feeling the urge to hate all Black women when seeing Abbott on TV and suggesting that she should be shot. Abbott, the first Black woman elected to Parliament, is a significant figure in British politics and has been outspoken on home affairs issues for the opposition Labour Party.
Abbott was temporarily suspended from the Labour Party in Parliament last year pending an investigation into a letter she wrote regarding racism against Black people. In response to Hester’s reported comments, Abbott described them as “frightening.”
Abbott expressed concern over the reported comments, citing her vulnerability as a single woman and the recent murders of two members of Parliament. Jo Cox, a Labour lawmaker, was killed in 2016 by a right-wing extremist, while David Amess, a Conservative lawmaker, was murdered in 2021 by a radical Islamist.
Hester, who is the Conservative Party’s largest donor, recently contributed £5 million to the party, bringing his total donations to £10 million in a year. Despite calls for the money to be returned, the party has resisted doing so with a general election expected later this year.
Senior Conservative Party members, including Kemi Badenoch and Mel Stride, have denounced Hester’s comments as racist and inappropriate. Opposition politicians have criticized the Conservatives for not taking stronger action against Hester and returning his donations.
Critics have also pointed out instances of intolerance within the Conservative Party, including Islamophobia. The party recently suspended a former lawmaker, Lee Anderson, for making inflammatory remarks about London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan. The Conservatives have been accused of tolerating anti-Muslim sentiments, prompting calls for change within the party.
In response, Kemi Badenoch emphasized the need to separate criticism from a person’s race or gender, stating that it is unacceptable to associate someone’s views with their identity. She called for forgiveness when there is genuine regret over inappropriate remarks.
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