West Yorkshire Police have launched an investigation into alleged racist comments made by Frank Hester, a major donor to the Conservative Party, about MP Diane Abbott, where he said she made him 'want to hate all black women'. The comments, reportedly made at a meeting in 2019, have sparked widespread controversy and debate within political circles and the media. Senior Tories, including Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch, have defended Hester, suggesting the party should retain his donations totaling £15 million, including a £10m donation and a further £5m donation. Badenoch described the ongoing focus on the issue as 'trivia' and emphasized the need to move past the accusations of racism. Despite the defense from some party members, the police inquiry marks a significant escalation in the response to Hester's comments, which he has not explicitly apologized for in terms of racism. The investigation comes at a challenging time for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, coinciding with the launch of the Tories' local election campaign.
🔴 Police are investigating “racist comments” allegedly made by Tory party donor Frank Hester about Diane Abbott https://t.co/PucvKMAg9L
Abbott 'glad' police investigating Tory donor's alleged racist comments Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/C6q62tVfbt
UK police investigate alleged remarks by Tory donor Frank Hester https://t.co/yuHQNdXRBh
⚠️ UK POLICE INVESTIGATE CONSERVATIVE DONOR'S ALLEGED COMMENTS ABOUT BLACK LAWMAKER Full Story → https://t.co/ZG0tSKULFJ British police said on Friday they were investigating possibly racist comments allegedly made by the biggest donor to the ruling Conservative party at a…
Police have launched an investigation into alleged racist comments made about Diane Abbott by Frank Hester, the Conservative Party’s largest donor ⬇️ https://t.co/yaBelTkFz8
‘West Yorkshire Police say they have only just been alerted to the incident.’ GB News’ Olivia Utley gives more detail on West Yorkshire Police launching an investigation into alleged racist comments made by a top Tory donor. https://t.co/V5mYZmUS3R
“Politically, this is not ideal for Rishi Sunak.” The police investigation into Tory donor Frank Hester over his alleged racist comments about Diane Abbott could mean more trouble for Rishi Sunak, says @PatrickkMaguire. @MattChorley | #TimesRadio https://t.co/57liFmfrmV
LATEST: Police have launched an investigation into alleged racist comments made by a top Tory donor to London MP Diane Abbott. https://t.co/ikuYgJd0kJ
As police now investigate alleged racist comments made by Tory party donor Frank Hester about Diane Abbott, should Rishi Sunak give back his £10 million donation? 📞 0344 499 1000 @TVKev | @ThatAlexWoman https://t.co/IvJzNAJeJK
West Yorkshire Police are investigating alleged racist comments made by Tory party donor Frank Hester about Diane Abbott at a meeting in 2019. The force said it was working to establish whether a crime had been committed after the businessman allegedly said that Ms Abbott made… https://t.co/yZdBnBXj79
'It wouldn't be right to comment on police matters.' PM Rishi Sunak addresses whether the Conservatives would return the £10m donated by Frank Hester, after police launched an investigation into his alleged racist comments about Diane Abbott. https://t.co/UAufR18BlG 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/cHM8q6zfOR
'This could not happen at a worse time for Rishi Sunak.' 'He will undoubtedly be asked about this.' Police are investigating Frank Hester's alleged comments about Diane Abbott on the day the PM is launching the Tories' local election campaign. @HenryRiley1 updates @mrjamesob. https://t.co/dqzQwYQwzZ
West Yorkshire police investigation into Frank Hester's comments about Diane Abbott. Appeal for information here: https://t.co/PyLaiHKRyz
NEW: West Yorkshire police investigating “racist comments” about Diane Abbott made by Tory donor Frank Hester in 2019 following @guardian investigation.
Police probe allegations Tory donor Frank Hester made 'racist' comments about Diane Abbott https://t.co/9RMjeJoCDD https://t.co/DNQ2hxI5bD
Police investigating alleged comments by Conservative donor Frank Hester about MP Diane Abbott https://t.co/YEIAFQzPOP
Dianne Abbott: Police investigate Tory donor alleged race comments https://t.co/jutHP9Uzzz
🔴 Latest politics updates as police investigating Tory donor Frank Hester over alleged racist comments Follow the live updates here ⬇️ https://t.co/fM0AdsvZtq
Tory party donor Frank Hester's 'racist' comments about Diana Abbott to be investigated by police https://t.co/desGSCJfOi
West Yorkshire police are investigating the comments made by Tory Party donor Frank Hester. They were unacceptable but not a police matter. West Yorkshire police’s resources & time would be better spent dealing with more pressing matters, like the Batley school teacher in hiding
West Yorkshire Police has launched an investigation into alleged racist comments made by Conservative Party donor Frank Hester about MP Diane Abbott. https://t.co/cJmfYVlB8b
Police launch investigation into alleged racist comments made by Tory party donor about Diane Abbott https://t.co/f5rIxZRHE5
Police investigate alleged racist remarks by Frank Hester https://t.co/l2qVQx5h79
BREAKING: Police are investigating alleged racist comments made by major Tory party donor Frank Hester about Diane Abbott Read more: https://t.co/vrvm2ZLyg3
West Yorkshire Police probing 'racist' comments by Tory party donor Frank Hester https://t.co/Ekc14L0ocg
🚨 BREAKING: West Yorkshire Police are now investigating Tory donor Frank Hester's alleged racist comments at a meeting in 2019
BREAKING: West Yorkshire police are investigating alleged racist comments made by Tory Party donor Frank Hester, according to Sky News
BREAKING: West Yorkshire police are investigating alleged racist comments made by Tory Party donor Frank Hester https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/ud4f7G6pOS
🚨 BREAKING: West Yorkshire Police are now investigating Tory donor Frank Hester's comments at a meeting in 2019
"Does the prime minister agree with me, these comments are racist, yes or no?" Labour's Ashley Dalton asks in relation to Tory donor Frank Hester's comments about Diane Abbott "I addressed this last week," Rishi Sunak says #PMQs https://t.co/pvE5tLBLEh https://t.co/uoVKtgjRNo
Just Kemi Badenoch downplaying Tory donor Frank Hester's racist comments about Diane Abbott https://t.co/njJHmQ1sjR
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer suggests the Conservative Party should keep the £5m donated from top donor Frank Hester, despite the 'unacceptable remarks' he made towards Diane Abbott 'So, accept the apology, accept the money and move on?' 'Yes... I think that's exactly right.' https://t.co/haKMU5SntQ
"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
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
'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
Kemi Badenoch says the Tories shouldn't return any money from top donor Frank Hester, including a further £5m donation on top of £10m donated last year 'Forgiveness is the right response', she tells @Peston https://t.co/IPzSFhNFRQ
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
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.
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