The Conservative Party is facing criticism for accepting donations from Frank Hester, who made racist and misogynistic comments about Diane Abbott. Hester donated £10 million initially, with an additional £5 million later revealed. Calls are made for the party to return the money, but some defend keeping it, citing Hester's apology and intentions.
What should the Tories do with Frank Hester's £10 million donation? I believe it should go to charities of Diane Abbott's choosing, as I said on BBC Politics Midlands this weekend: https://t.co/vsN8hO11tL
"She's able to say 'if a black woman doesn't think it's a big deal, what are all you people getting excited about?'" Caller Cecelia tells @mrjamesob 'it's absolutely frightening' that Kemi Badenoch is 'trivialising' the race row that Frank Hester is embroiled in. https://t.co/U8CUNji5Hm
The government has "drawn a line" under the Frank Hester race row and shouldn't have to give back the money he donated, Kemi Badenoch has said Read more 🔗 https://t.co/BTSzcIpvYr
Sunak hints Tories would accept another £5m from 'racism' storm donor Frank Hester https://t.co/RQuCYbezc7
Rishi Sunak hints the Tories would accept another £5 million from 'racism' storm donor Frank Hester
Frank Hester has not apologised for racism. The government - in acknowledgement this was racism - can not then treat an apology for "rude" comments delivered alongside an absurd denial that "wanting to hate every black woman" has anything to do with race an apology for racism. https://t.co/SRHZQCaZtJ
For the umpteenth time: Frank Hester has apologised for being "rude" about Diane Abbott. https://t.co/QqseQo9JfK
'The most outspoken critic...and simultaneously the loudest denier of reality.' For Kemi Badenoch to claim Frank Hester's comments were 'not really about Diane Abbott' is 'obnoxious to the point of incredulity' says @mrjamesob, reflecting on her calling the race row 'trivia'. https://t.co/N0fyyNgSPE
Tories 'have drawn a line' under Frank Hester race row and should keep donations - Badenoch Read more 🔗 https://t.co/BTSzcIpvYr
Kemi Badenoch does make a fair point about now drawing a line over Frank Hester. Whilst his comments as reported in 2019 were unacceptable, he has apologised & giving him £15 million would be an odd “penalty”. The media egging this & dragging it out is just an obsession now. https://t.co/sZFRzQAM2R
'I don't think we should return it' @KemiBadenoch says Frank Hester should be forgiven for his 'racist' comments about MP Diane Abbott She says the party shouldn't return his money because the donations show him 'wanting to do something for the country' Speaking to @Peston https://t.co/EBrWnMpDt5
'The relentless focus on it is trivial' @KemiBadenoch says the row over 'racist' comments made by top Tory donor Frank Hester is 'outsized', and that we need 'to move on' and forgive him Speaking to @Peston https://t.co/8ky5lnNaox
Kemi Badenoch does make a good point here about drawing a line on Frank Hester. Whilst his comments as reported from 2019 were unacceptable he has apologised & giving him £15 million would be an odd “penalty”. At this point, the media dragging it out is just an obsession. https://t.co/L7riiEspMQ
on this morning’s media round Kemi Badenoch complained a ‘media bubble’ is keeping the Frank Hester story going & then ensures the story continues by calling racism ‘trivia’, A+ work https://t.co/QsJQU0PEP6
Until Hester acknowledges racism and apologises for it, the claim he has apologised is partial and misleading. He has apologised for rudeness and denies blatant racism is racism. That can be no basis for rehabilitation into public life https://t.co/5djx3J8DgC
So far senior Tories have said that when Frank Hester said Diane Abbott made him "want to hate all black women" and "should be shot" he wasn't talking about race, gender or Diane Abbott.
When Frank Hester said Diane Abbott made him "want to hate all black women" and "should be shot" he wasn't really talking about Diane Abbott is a helluva take ... https://t.co/SRG7Gpn3DV
Frank Hester's £10m donation "should be kept" says secretary of state for business and trade @KemiBadenoch. The Conservatives have "drawn a line" under the Frank Hester racism row, she adds. https://t.co/EvGV1ik5Hl 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/9lrD0BPsAA
Kemi Badenoch to LBC on Frank Hester row… “It’s trivia, it really is” “We need to get to a place where we stop chasing people around & looking everywhere for the racism” “Everybody is accusing, and counter accusing around racism” @LBC @NickFerrariLBC https://t.co/tCL8QWg9n6
'This is trivia Nick, I am sorry but I really do believe it is.' In response to whether Frank Hester has acknowledged his comments were 'racist', Kemi Badenoch insists to @NickFerrariLBC that 'we've been talking about this for over a week and we need to move away'. https://t.co/p06eerRLuv
Kemi Badenoch is *actually* on #BBCBreakfast saying the ongoing Frank Hester stories are ‘media bubble speculation’ https://t.co/0PFToH6AL1
If Hester can't say racism is racist then the Conservatives going soft on racism to try to take another donation isn't going to move things on https://t.co/lvDhktmfVL
‘I’m surprised I’m still talking about it,’ says Kemi Badenoch about Frank Hester on #BBCBreakfast https://t.co/uw4elZ9pxe
'He wasn't talking to Diane Abbott, it wasn't even really about Diane Abbott' does not mitigate but exacerbated. (They are about Diane Abbott by being vile about death re somebody else Hester hates & they become about all black women by crude extension of racist stereotyping) https://t.co/R7XG1qTu7G
Kemi Badenoch, the first govt minister to say Frank Hester's comments about Diane Abbott were "racist", seems to have changed her tune. She tells LBC: "This was something that happened 5 years ago - he wasn't talking to Diane Abbott, it wasn't even really about Diane Abbott."
This was the state of play with the Frank Hester’s “additional £5m donation” on Friday afternoon. The money had then NOT been handed over; the Tories were in talks about the extra cash…👇 https://t.co/1w1u4C6nhH
This was the state of play with the Frank Hester’s “additional £5m donation on Friday afternoon. The money had NOT been handed over; the Tories were in talks about the extra cash…👇 https://t.co/1w1u4C6nhH
This is the current state of play with the Frank Hester’s “additional £5m donation. The money has not yet been handed over; the Tories were in talks about the extra cash👇 https://t.co/1w1u4C6nhH
🔵 This week, the 58-year-old Frank Hester became not just the Tory party’s biggest donor, but also its most notorious and yet again highlighted the murky world of political donations https://t.co/MEE31lsRMi
Why the Tories refuse to act on mega donor Frank Hester's racist comments against Diane Abbott https://t.co/3gYYY6ykyA
“If it was an antisemitic comment or any other kind of abusive comment, we wouldn’t hear the end of it. But when it comes to black women it doesn’t matter.” Protesters at a rally for Diane Abbott say that the Tory party must return Frank Hester’s money. #TimesRadio https://t.co/hoq6IaLSqb
'Anybody with an ounce of political sense would realise that given the row of the last week, you do not consider another penny from this man'. Broadcaster and writer @MichaelLCrick discusses the Conservative Party returning cash from Tory donor Frank Hester. 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/0DIRvslFWi
‘Nope, no way’: can the Tories afford to give Frank Hester’s money back? https://t.co/ekaIdmKpN6
'Clearly he's still welcome because of his money.' Political Editor at the Express Online, David Maddox, brands Tory donor, Frank Hester, 'an appalling individual who shouldn't be allowed near any political party'. https://t.co/dKIJp5uqUy
“We’ve all said terrible things.” “We haven’t called for an MP to be shot, though.” Frank Hester shouldn’t be “written off” for allegedly making racist comments about Diane Abbott, says Conservative peer @tinastowell. @CathyNewman | #TimesRadio https://t.co/HVNFekAOC1
Frank Hester's racist and misogynistic comments about Diane Abbott were appalling. If the Prime Minister had a shred of decency he would do the right thing and hand this money back. https://t.co/z5icHPY1E1
"As a Black woman, it feels like he’s attacked me too." Top Tory donor Frank Hester said veteran politician Diane Abbott, affectionately called ‘Auntie Di’ by her supporters, should be shot. 🔗: https://t.co/5Q1yzB21yI https://t.co/yG9LIPMg09
Frank Hester racism row: how key figures reacted to Diane Abbott remarks https://t.co/wLPixmgPEW
'There's no evidence that they're going to give that money back.' 'It gives you the impression that Frank Hester owns a chunk of the PM...' If the Tories accept more from the donor after his Diane Abbott remarks, it will 'undermine our democracy', says @ShelaghFogarty. https://t.co/moyvwDEVnk
The fact that Frank Hester is yet to hand over the £5million could explain the initial reluctance of Downing Street to condemn the reported remarks as racist when they first emerged - and only doing so after Kemi Badenoch stepped in. https://t.co/1w1u4C6nhH
EXCLUSIVE Conservatives are still in talks about additional £5million from ‘race row donor’ Frank Hester. Contrary to reports the extra £5million has not yet been handed over. One very senior Tory tells me: “He wants to give again. I hope he will." https://t.co/67I8phyQCA
EXCLUSIVE: Conservatives are still in talks about additional £5million from ‘race row donor’ Frank Hester https://t.co/HgpaQnoyhF
👀 Plot twist coming in the row over Frank Hester’s reported additional £5million donation to the Conservatives. Stay tuned to @GBNEWS.
Jeremy Hunt's absolutely unhinged defence of Tory donor Frank Hester's following racist comments about Diane Abbott https://t.co/5tkzAOaMpN
📢A message of solidarity to @HackneyAbbott. RMT sends full solidarity to Diane Abbott MP, following the racist, misogynist and hate filled language used by Tory Donor Frank Hester. We utterly condemn this threatening attack on Diane and applaud her courage and determination in…
Tories 'given further £5million' from 'racist rant' donor Frank Hester https://t.co/FGiX3hnSVb
Tories urged to return ‘further £5m donation made by Frank Hester’ https://t.co/Jr2U9khn6Y
Who are the Tories’ recent biggest donors after Frank Hester? https://t.co/4U6e723tiD
'I think they were racist and inciting violence in the most appalling of ways...' As Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper comments on the new government definition of extremism, she hesitates to say whether Frank Hester’s comments towards Diane Abbott fall into the category. https://t.co/48MkysDCpf
Mohammed Amin explains why he believes the Conservatives should return a £5m donation made by Frank Hester. “It's a large amount of money that Rishi does not want to give back, therefore he's more willing to say Hester has shown remorse”. @VanessaTalkTV | #TalkTV https://t.co/HGCtCFsdFy
Frank Hester: Rishi Sunak under pressure over 'new £5m' from race row donor https://t.co/ryQE5aS1pq
When the topic was racist abuse fuelled by the Tory Party and from its biggest donor, @HackneyAbbott should have been called to speak in PMQs yesterday. So it’s especially important to read her words today. The Tories must return Hester’s donation. Labour must restore the whip. https://t.co/SEUaThyddF
The PM is under renewed pressure to hand back money donated by Frank Hester, after it was revealed he donated £5m more to the party https://t.co/CBj1B1QAZi
'You're happy to tout for cash off the back of this racism row and not allow her back into the party?' @Lewis_Goodall asks Keir Starmer if Labour is showing 'integrity' in asking for donations, while rebuking the Tories for 'ignoring the racism' of Frank Hester to Diane Abbott. https://t.co/P1h5lVV1S3
“Hester’s donation is worth 42% of the entire Conservative war chest for the election… through that lens, you see 𝐰𝐡𝐲 they’re doing what they're been doing.” Wondering why the Tories aren't returning the £10m to Frank Hester? @lewis_goodall | @jonsopel | @GlobalPlayer https://t.co/87iJ1008sk
Tory party “sitting on” further £5m from disgraced donor Frank Hester https://t.co/r1pwWLSvx9
It’s understood Frank Hester has donated another £5million to the Tories since January - a figure the Tories did not deny - on top of the £10million he had already handed the party The £15million total equates to 40% of the new £35million spending limit for a general election -…
Is this why the Tories were initially so reluctant to say Frank Hester's comments were racist? https://t.co/YrCrg2MzZf
Businessman Frank Hester has been condemned after alleged comments he made about Diane Abbott. On the Daily, @skynewsniall, @DawnButlerBrent, and @SamCoatesSky discuss the race row. Sky @AmeliaHarperTV on discovering children filming themselves killing and torturing animals 🎧👇
Charlie Rowley says the money donated to the Conservative Party by Frank Hester doesn't need to be handed back, but it could be better spent. "This should be light that needs to be shone on politics in general to remind people that language matters!" @TVKev | @ThatAlexWoman https://t.co/mXdikOBxR3
There's no excuse for the Conservatives accepting more money from Frank Hester following his racist, misogynist remarks. They should repay this before it hits the coffers. Rishi Sunak needs to pay back every penny, cut ties with Frank Hester and apologise to Diane Abbott. https://t.co/dO5lPeooNH
Sunak on Hester: "When someone has expressed genuine remorse or contrition for what they've done, it's the right thing to do to accept that." Hester has apologised for being "rude" about Diane Abbott and said his criticism had nothing to do with her gender or skin colour.
So on day when Michael Gove unveils definition of extremism and which groups won’t get govt funding, we learn the Conservative Party has taken an extra £5M from Frank Hester who said seeing Diane Abbott made him hate black women, and wanted to shoot her 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/bcQGCbO8rf
So it turns out the Conservatives are sitting on a further undeclared £5 million donation from Frank Hester When asked about this yesterday Rishi Sunak's Press Secretary repeatedly declined to say if they'd received any more cash from him since last year https://t.co/MKaJZ5zu9F
Businessman Frank Hester has been condemned after alleged comments he made about Diane Abbott and the PM has resisted calls to hand back £10m Mr Hester donated to the Conservative Party. On the Daily, @skynewsniall, @DawnButlerBrent, and @SamCoatesSky discuss the race row. 👇🎧 https://t.co/f5TplhMlSn
It beggars belief that the Tory Party won’t give Hester’s money back after his disgraceful comments about @HackneyAbbott. This isn’t about giving him £10m to spend. It’s about saying racist money has no place in our politics or our society. Sunak just doesn’t get that. https://t.co/2V3UEbLoYH
'Why won't you give the money back?' @edballs questions Michael Gove about why the Conservative party won't give the money back to Frank Hester following the government's new definition of extremism. https://t.co/jDPOLRLAGr
From “move on” to “racist and wrong”: how the Tory line on Frank Hester shifted - @kiranstacey reports https://t.co/gPtjtosjdf