The Conservative Party is facing intense scrutiny over its handling of a £10 million donation from Frank Hester, a donor embroiled in a race row over comments he made about Diane Abbott, the first Black woman MP in the UK, and accused of overt racism. Reports suggest that Hester, who has previously donated £13.7m to the Tories and received £122m in NHS contracts, made racist remarks about Abbott. The Labour Party is also under pressure, with calls to restore the whip to Abbott, who has been a subject of investigation for 11 months over an 'offensive' letter and has been accused of being "racist against Jews". Amidst this controversy, Labour leader Keir Starmer and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have provided evasive responses regarding the actions to be taken against Abbott, who reportedly refused antisemitism training, and whether the Conservative Party will return Hester's donation. The situation has sparked a broader debate on racism within British politics, with various public figures and organizations expressing solidarity with Abbott and urging both parties to take decisive action.
Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell march in support of ally Diane Abbott after MP was targeted for racist and sexist abuse by a key Tory donor https://t.co/DWJf4SXmzD
“I don’t think that what Frank Hester was saying was, in effect, inciting violence.” Fellow Tory donor Alasdair Locke says Frank Hester’s money shouldn’t be returned. @AyeshaHazarika | #TimesRadio https://t.co/bSiECsq3WZ
"I would like to see Diane come back.” Baroness Amos hopes the Labour Party’s review process into Diane Abbott’s suspension will be concluded “as quickly as possible.” @AyeshaHazarika https://t.co/1Lyfj0i94Q
My speech today at the Stand up to Racism rally & demonstration supported by the TUC & numerous trade unions. Speaker after speaker like me called for the Labour whip to be restored to Diane Abbott. It’s beyond time that this happens. @AntiRacismDay https://t.co/HlEf5IDY7K
Diane Abbott has launched a fresh attack on Sir Lindsay Hoyle after she was denied the chance to speak during Prime Minister’s Questions earlier this week, as an ongoing race row continues to engulf Westminster @poppyeh reports https://t.co/tajVdARoA4
Diane Abbott has appeared at a rally where she hit out at the "level of racism that is still in Britain", following a row over comments made about her https://t.co/1gsLnA0H26
Diane Abbott not being called to speak in the Commons - as party leaders held a televised debate about racism against her - reflected Macpherson's insight: unwitting thoughtlessness can be as significant a source of unfair experiences as malign intent https://t.co/taXg9TPRR9 https://t.co/NETBvSgR7u
John McDonnell: Keir Starmer must reinstate Diane Abbott https://t.co/rU02xfPbj7
Senior Labour MP: Keir Starmer must reinstate Diane Abbott https://t.co/GcfwNuopnb
"We stand with Diane": Diane Abbott addresses a rally of her supporters in Hackney after a Tory donor reportedly said the north London MP "made you want to hate all black women" and that she "should be shot" https://t.co/Cwzf4AC7MO
Diane Abbott criticises Speaker as racism row continues to engulf Westminster https://t.co/H1hMBhKEj0
If Labour wants to be seen as an anti-racist party, they must restore the whip to Diane Abbott. @johnmcdonnellMP at the #StopRacism #StopTheHate demo. https://t.co/bCiNmjWx4r
A great speech from Diane Abbott. She should be brought back into the Parliamentary Labour Party. https://t.co/dag3GzeFoz
'It does leave us open to charges of racism.' @JohnMcDonnellMP tells @MattFrei that the Labour whip should be restored to Diane Abbott: 'a whole series of white men have made appalling statements... some of them had no action taken against them.' https://t.co/XOg4Bn4wi5
A powerful and inspiring interview by Diane Abbott. The first black woman MP in UK history. Labour through and through. Diane’s constituents stand with Diane just as Diane always stands with them. Diane should be brought back into the Parliamentary Labour Party. https://t.co/M8yLYQ9YpP
I want to place on record my solidarity with Diane Abbott. I want to see Diane Abbott MP become Mother of the House. By any means necessary
Abbott hits out at 'level of racism still in Britain' as MP is cheered by supporters at rally https://t.co/CmddQpT76d
'You have a minister advocating that we show Christian forgiveness to a white guy who espouses vile racist views, shouldn't we do the same for a black woman who apologised immediately?' @Matthew_Wright quizzes a caller who brands Diane Abbott's anti-Semitic remarks 'a disgrace'. https://t.co/fRT9mdP8bD
Why the Tories refuse to act on mega donor Frank Hester's racist comments against Diane Abbott https://t.co/3gYYY6ykyA
Former Tory Lords leader defends their top donor #FrankHester over alleged racist comments made to @HackneyAbbott - WATCH: https://t.co/XDLQVYitZh
'She has apologised.' 'Why doesn't she just do the course and get on with it?' @Matthew_Wright and Action for Race Equality's Jeremy Crook discuss Diane Abbott's 'refusal' to take the anti-Semitism training that would allow Labour to restore the whip to her. https://t.co/C1jin3w39H
Sunak under pressure to say how many times he has met Tory donor Frank Hester https://t.co/ZHZDKhqU3u
Diane Abbott thanks supporters at anti-racism rally in east London https://t.co/e8pipJO5mi
Diane Abbott denies refusing to do antisemitism training to rejoin Labour https://t.co/Vd1rynGZr0
Diane Abbott: "This is about the way black women are disrespected decade after decade." https://t.co/CCaotpwGCU https://t.co/fqGDZm2vXb
Diane Abbott: "This is the about the way black women are disrespected decade after decade." https://t.co/CCaotpwGCU https://t.co/wFVaKZK9vf
"This is about the way black women are disrespected decade after decade" says MP Diane Abbott. https://t.co/3Q1sgruxJn https://t.co/0B46eewPtc
“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
An Islington supporter at a rally for me this evening #DianeAbbott https://t.co/1ayUVF0aKF
The Tory party’s biggest donor launched a misogynistic race hate tirade against Diane Abbott. He gave £10m and got £122m of NHS contracts in return. And the Tories are not giving the money back Follow @MoatsTV #DianeAbbott #racerow #Sunak #Tories https://t.co/uPScDySzct
'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
'If you go down the list of donors over the last two or three decades, you'll always find something wrong with a donor afterwards.' Mike Parry, says the Tory party should not give back the £10 Million donation from Frank Hester. https://t.co/qK79xWmN55
To understand quite how depraved Labour has become under the current leadership you simply need to understand how it has treated @HackneyAbbott. Senior Labour staffers were revealed to be appallingly racist about Diane. Instead of taking any action against the racists Labour is
'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
'If Diane Abbott says something, and apologises and retracts it and distances herself from it, well that's still not enough' says Comedian @rialina_. The panel discusses whether or not the Labour Party will return the whip to the MP. https://t.co/pnkNk7ZPti 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/JoKa8NFkUv
'If Diane Abbott says something, and apologises and retracts it and distances herself from it, well that's still not enough' says Comedian @rialina_. The panel discusses whether or not the Labour party will return the whip to the MP. https://t.co/pnkNk7ZPti 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/ZdUzZpmh6q
'Money talks and it talks more loudly than their conscience'. Author and writer at Private Eye, @rbrooks45, weighs in on the alleged comments made by Tory donor Frank Hester about MP Diane Abbott and Tories returning money. https://t.co/pnkNk7ZPti 📺 Sky 501 and YouTube https://t.co/8E0DVEnU5x
New: Rishi Sunak is believed to have met Frank Hester in the afternoon on the day after the autumn statement in Nov when Hester paid £16k for Sunak to fly to Leeds by helicopter. Downing St declined to “get into the details” of whether they met. https://t.co/jOt8CFfFNt
"I'm sure that Keir Starmer will do the right thing." MP Diane Abbott tells @symeonbrown she thinks 'Starmer will do the right thing' and restore the Labour whip to her after alleged racist comments she received. https://t.co/fzESkAdP6x
Hackney Town Hall, rally in support of Diane Abbott. https://t.co/IOZlElxtfA https://t.co/Wl674lBNDy
The Conservative Party is "in talks" about an additional £5m from a Tory donor embroiled in Diane Abbott race row, Sky News understands https://t.co/qUeJpLhr1l
Keir Starmer’s refusal to restore whip to Diane Abbot is ‘double standards’ Party sources in Hackney said there was anger and frustration at the way the process had been handled https://t.co/LXAGQuMkaz
Labour have unleashed something in the Black community through their abhorrent treatment of Diane Abbott. The backlash is going to be immense! https://t.co/6r4VVYYHIs
Fantastic support for Diane Abbott. Labour has created a formidable rod for its reactionary back. https://t.co/Ombeb9LH2Y
We stand with Diane! We stand against @UKLabour @HackneyAbbott https://t.co/216zCNIS0b
The message at the rally in support of Diane Abbott tonight from the Black community and Hackney residents was No Diane, No vote! Labour need to think very clearly about their next steps! The community is itching to mobilise against Labour 💛 https://t.co/LZDCZL0oC1
Former Tory Lords leader @tinastowell defends #FrankHester over his alleged racist comments about @HackneyAbbott https://t.co/XDLQVYitZh
“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
"Diane Abbott ‘refused to take antisemitism training to return to Labour’ "Diane Abbott was offered the Labour whip back if she underwent antisemitism training but refused the offer, The Independent has been told" https://t.co/Pjcd8GDNXG
Diane Abbott was offered the Labour whip back if she agreed to offer a more fulsome apology and undergo antisemitism training, but turned the offer down, I am told 👇👇 https://t.co/8d4TgMGPLl
A trailblazing hero, Diane Abbott is also a problem for Keir Starmer. Me for @indypremium https://t.co/J12pQPB1Ze
'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
Utterly shameless. After his repugnant, racist remarks, the Tories now seem to be trying to trouser millions more from Frank Hester. The Conservatives need to pay back every penny, cut ties with Frank Hester and apologise to Diane Abbott. https://t.co/8WpT9M9na1
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
Diane Abbott is a trailblazer. The first Black woman MP. The personal abuse she’s received is simply unimaginable. Sort this sorry mess out and restore the whip. Sign the petition 👇👇 https://t.co/yu4PzZjD84
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
Diane is a trailblazer. The fist Black woman MP. The personal abuse she’s received is simply unimaginable. Sort this sorry mess out and restore the whip. Sign the petition 👇👇 https://t.co/yu4PzZjD84
Angela Eagle: Would you return the £10 million Frank Hester donated to your party, given he was racist to Diane Abbott and called for her to be shot? Jeremy Hunt: No. Angela Eagle: Why? Jeremy Hunt: That would be cancelling him. https://t.co/r78VRH1cFM
Jeremy Hunt thinks the Tories would be cancelling Frank Hester if they returned his £10 million donation because he was racist to Diane Abbott. https://t.co/u7X82WbAXP
Jeremy Hunt doesn't think the Tories should return the £10 million Frank Hester donated to them. Why? That would be cancelling him for calling for a sitting MP to be shot. https://t.co/6whnIWsJY1
Jeremy Hunt's absolutely unhinged defence of Tory donor Frank Hester's following racist comments about Diane Abbott https://t.co/5tkzAOaMpN
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt responds to questions over the reported new £5m donation from donor caught in racism row. https://t.co/cRO1QU6utm
The treatment of Diane Abbott has become the litmus test of racism in our political system & I regret to say that, as @garyyounge sets out in this brilliant article, the Labour Party is also failing that test. The contrast between how she’s been treated & others is unjustifiable https://t.co/nu3r9VqnQg
In Britain’s degraded politics, fighting racism has become a cynical game - @garyyounge https://t.co/A7DQQbynSR
📢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…
So @UKLabour you'll raise money on the back of the racism directed at @HackneyAbbott even though your party has constantly disparaged and undermined her . But you won't reinstate the whip. Just how cynical can you get? #reinstatethewhip https://t.co/1GXJxAW3ls
A minister has been hit with a furious backlash after claiming Tory donor Frank Hester should be given a “second chance” despite his “racist” rant against Diane Abbott https://t.co/KoOt4asg3f
It’s shocking that the Tories continue to accept Hester’s money and tip-toe around the rampant racism in their party. This week, I was on @itvpeston to explain why Hester’s words have consequences. https://t.co/BpYx49AKA9
A senior Labour official calls for an independent investigation into Diane Abbott to wrap up “swiftly”, after its leaders diverged on how to handle the veteran MP https://t.co/mbijUJ42Nc
Do the Tories count someone saying Diane Abbott should be shot as extremist? Or are those who have donated £10 million to the Tories exempted from such definitions? https://t.co/UecrUEI4UZ
Ellie Reeves, like Keir Starmer yesterday, being very careful this morning not to say Diane Abbott should get the Labour whip back. Which is a very different position from Angela Rayner, who yesterday said she'd like to see Abbott back in the fold.
Rishi Sunak and the Conservative party are under scrutiny amid reports it received £5m more in donations from Frank Hester than previously declared. Tortoise Political Editor Cat Neilan, who first published the report, tells #R4Today the party have not denied the claims.
'I don't agree with Diane's comments... but it's not for me to say.' Labour MP @elliereeves tells @TomSwarbrick1 that despite Angela Rayner speaking out, it's 'not fair' for MPs to get involved with questions on whether Diane Abbott should have the whip restored. https://t.co/TqlsD1YwRn
Tories 'given further £5million' from 'racist rant' donor Frank Hester https://t.co/FGiX3hnSVb
Frank Hester: PM under pressure over 'new £5m' from donor accused of racism https://t.co/4bRgQyh6dm
“EXCLUSIVE: Tories ramp up spending on Facebook ads by 1,200% fuelling May election fever”🚨 Did a donation from Hester fund this? 💥RT if you want the Tories to give Hester’s money back💥 https://t.co/yb6EgDMM6f
Labour appears split over returning whip to Diane Abbott | ITV News https://t.co/IYqShjZ2CU
The Tory racism row has become an unedifying spectacle. Starmer and Sunak spent yesterday’s PMQs taking it in turns to call the other party racist. The political class seems desperate to distract from the big problems we’re facing, writes Fraser Myers https://t.co/uJsWRCXs8y
Tories urged to return ‘further £5m donation made by Frank Hester’ https://t.co/Jr2U9khn6Y
The Conservative Party has received a further £5 million from the donor embroiled in a race row over comments he is said to have made about Diane Abbott https://t.co/Be44hTkbVM
The Conservative Party has been reported to have received another £5 million donation, which has yet to be declared, from a donor accused of making racist comments about the Hackney North MP Diane Abbott ⬇️ https://t.co/UgTtQjaLvv
‘People are claiming they want Diane Abbott back even though she herself has been racist against Jews… And you’ve got Angela Rayner and the fruitcakes on the backbenches who put pressure on Starmer.’ - Allison Pearson, Daily Telegraph columnist https://t.co/Pm7ToKVk4r
"This guy is a disgusting racist, he is bankrolling the Conservative Party. "Will. You. Give. That. Money. Back." @ThePowerTest host @ayeshahazarika blasts Tory Minister @Lee4NED & tells Tories to put money where their mouth is. #bbcqt 💥💥💥 https://t.co/gUgQ0bGu9g
Rishi Sunak under pressure over 'new £5m' from race row donor https://t.co/hkQCqHcBYm
This week we’ve had overt racism from the Tories’ biggest donor. Shockingly the Prime Minister said he was “pleased” that this man supported his Party, refusing to return his cash. A senior Conservative MP said they are “unleadable” and “for the sake of the nation” they should… https://t.co/2bl8fP2jVO
'It's a shame that Diane Abbott didn't get a chance to question the Prime Minister when the whole debate was about her' Nigel Nelson points out that it is strange to not include the subject of a debate in the conversation. https://t.co/5rd5nNxWKT
The Conservative Party has reportedly received a further £5m from a donor embroiled in a race row over comments he is said to have made about Diane Abbott Read more🔗 https://t.co/B87PiPVUcF
Who are the Tories’ recent biggest donors after Frank Hester? https://t.co/4U6e723tiD
In the last year Frank Hester has given £13.7m to the Tories, who have given him £137m of NHS Contracts (10% what a coincidence). While in the last 3 years he has made £100m in profits. Like VIP PPE this is blatant corruption. https://t.co/WtPeCd020Y
Watch #PoliticsHub live with our Europe correspondent @AdamParsons, as politicians calls for Diane Abbott to have the Labour whip restored https://t.co/xItZsH7tea https://t.co/cRL4iQZL5L
"It has taken 11 months, I don't really know what is the hold up." LBC's @NatashaC tells @Lewis_Goodall that she believes Sir Keir Starmer 'doesn't want to give Diane Abbott's whip back' which is why he's keeping the debate at 'arm's length'. https://t.co/SwJlqGNQMm
"It has taken 11 months, I don't really know what is the hold up." LBC's @NatashaC tells @Lewis_Goodall that she believes Sir Keir Starmer 'doesn't want give Diane Abbott's whip back' which is why he's keeping the debate at 'arm's length'. https://t.co/IYlhYYoKJv
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
“Diane Abbott has suffered more abuse than any other MP, she’s been a trailblazer as a black MP.” Asked why the Diane Abbott investigation has taken 11 months, Sir Keir Starmer tells @Lewis_Goodall the case 'cannot be conflated' with Frank Hester's comments towards her. https://t.co/Jn2chQuxCT
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
Conservatives ‘took £5m more’ from donor caught in racism row | ITV News https://t.co/lNl67Gp27f
Diane Abbott thinks 'racism only goes one way': Carole Malone in fierce debate over Abbott comments https://t.co/FGuQqSList
‘A lot of people would say Diane Abbott’s comments were blatantly racist, and now it appears she’s forgiven, served some time as an independent, got told off, slap on the wrist, then they’re back in the fold. Doesn’t that send a very concerning message?’ @MartinDaubney https://t.co/dDgNml45U6
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
Keir Starmer refuses to say if Diane Abbott will be allowed back into Labour over 'offensive' letter despite race row https://t.co/JdD3qHrX0t
“Why has it taken 11 months to make a decision about Diane Abbott, Sir @Keir_Starmer?" @lewis_goodall on his interview with the Labour leader for LBC. @jonsopel | @GlobalPlayer | @HackneyAbbott https://t.co/Y6h9XsgbeN
“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