mar 12, 2024 - Conservative Party Donor Accused of Racist Remark

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A major Tory donor has apologised after reportedly saying MP Diane Abbott made him "want to hate all black women" and that she "should be shot".

The Guardian reports that Frank Hester made the remarks about the then-shadow home secretary during a 2019 meeting.

Mr Hester, who runs a health tech firm and gave the Tories £10m last year, admitted making "rude" comments about her.

But he said his remarks "had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin".

Energy Minister Graham Stuart said Mr Hester's comments were "clearly wrong", but warned against "cancelling anyone who has ever said anything".

When asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if the Conservatives should hand back Mr Hester's donations, Mr Stuart said he was not sure.

He said: "Diane Abbott has suffered horribly on social media. What we need is a politics which shows more kindness and understanding of each other, not the vile polarisation we've seen in which people are denigrated and attacked."

Speaking in the Commons, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: "This is utterly revolting, racist, and inciteful language. It has no place in our politics and public life."

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