The controversy surrounding Tory donor Frank Hester's alleged racist remarks about MP Diane Abbott has sparked a political storm. While Rishi Sunak and No10 initially struggled to address the issue, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch broke ranks, labeling the comments as racist. Despite calls to return Hester's £10 million donation, ministers like Kevin Hollinrake insist on accepting more funds, citing Hester's apology and denying his racist character. The situation has led to debates over racism in politics and party funding.
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
Diane Abbott has taken aim at both the Conservatives and Labour on their track records of tackling racism, amid a row over whether the Tories should hand back £10m to a major donor https://t.co/9WJq2VYLYq
Diane Abbott has accused both the Conservatives and Labour of not doing enough to tackle racism. @LouisaJamesITV reports. https://t.co/NIp6fA6Zjn
Diane Abbott has accused the Conservatives and Labour of failing to tackle racism as the Prime Minister remains under pressure to hand back £10 million to a major donor. https://t.co/qZxlzVqT5w
PM urged to return £10m from donor he now says made racist comments https://t.co/WS3tFEKg1T
The Independent: Diane Abbott accuses Tories and Labour of 'shocking' racism #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/kZ7Os0jWOJ
Diane Abbott reports Tory donor Frank Hester to police over comments saying MP 'should be shot' https://t.co/V30Kk6IXbg
🚨Exclusively for the Independent🚨: Yes, the Tories are outrageously racist and sexist – but Labour is guilty too | Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) #DianeAbbott https://t.co/OUhyXY4hbf
Diane Abbott in her own words 👇🏾 ‘The Conservative Party’s reluctance to condemn the attacks on me was shocking, if not surprising. But Labour has also failed to deal with the racism I’ve experienced at the hands of the party’ - https://t.co/NU5CIiSr4r
UK Tories say top donor made racist remark about MP who said Jews don’t face racism https://t.co/Wrf9r9pudc
The PM has been proud to be bankrolled by a person who reportedly used incredibly offensive racist and misogynistic language. The Conservatives have been in chaos over this. Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives must return the money. #PMQs https://t.co/EJIBSmQbLa
Comments made by a top Conservative Party donor were “racist” and “despicable” but the individual has expressed remorse and the apology should be accepted, UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt says https://t.co/CmBlq6riMV
UK PM Rishi Sunak Says Top Party Donor's Remorse Accepted After Row Over Racist Remark https://t.co/kOLgCszFkI https://t.co/cgxe2rBZFG
Asked if the Tories should hand back Frank Hester's £10m, Jeremy Hunt says: "I don’t believe that someone should be cancelled for a comment they made in the past and for which they have apologised." In what way is he being cancelled if the Tories give back the £10m?
"Is the prime minister proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynistic language?" UK Labour leader Keir Starmer calls on Rishi Sunak to return a £10 million donation from a businessman who the PM condemned for past "racist" comments https://t.co/Iczu99tAQ0 https://t.co/JU4FAMS9D0
On whether the Tory party should return Hester's donation, Jeremy Hunt says: "I don't believe that someone should be cancelled for a comment they made in the past and for which they have apologised"
Asked by the Labour leader whether he is 'proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynist language', Mr Sunak replied saying that Mr Hester has apologised for the comments and his remorse should be accepted. Read more: https://t.co/VkMI8faOYX https://t.co/G0mn5Fq5pc
A Conservative minister says he does not believe his party's biggest donor is a racist, despite alleged comments he made about former Labour MP Diane Abbott Read more🔗 https://t.co/TyOuHm8J8f
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used Prime Minister’s Questions to raise the case of Tory donor Frank Hester, asking Rishi Sunak: “Is the Prime Minister proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynistic language?' #PMQs https://t.co/KRPwxDKvC6
The Prime Minister has been proud to be bankrolled by a person who reportedly used incredibly offensive racist and misogynist language, while stating a black woman Member of the House “should be shot”.
The Prime Minister has been proud to be bankrolled by a person who reportedly used incredibly offensive racist and misogynist language, while stating a black woman Member of the House “should be shot”. Rishi Sunak must return the money #PMQs
Keir Starmer: Is the PM proud to be bankrolled by somebody using racist & misogynist language... Hester says it makes you want to hate all black women Rishi Sunak: They were wrong & racist KS: He also said Diane Abbott should be shot.. when will he hand back the £10m #PMQs https://t.co/LkKGZqY7at
The Prime Minister has been proud to be bankrolled by a person who reportedly used incredibly offensive racist and misogynist language, while stating @HackneyAbbott “should be shot”. #PMQs
'Is the PM proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynistic language?' @Keir_Starmer presses the PM over a top Tory donor's comments about MP Diane Abbott, but Sunak accuses Starmer of 'double standards' after Angela Rayner called her opponents 'scum' https://t.co/9xAJZeB2Y6
"What racist, woman-hating threat of violence would [Frank Hester] have to make for the PM to hand back the £10m he’s taken from him?" Asks Keir Starmer Rishi Sunak says Frank Hester apologised for his comment and that should be accepted #PMQs https://t.co/8Zg3bWOOoo https://t.co/qHaEBRgxsy
'Are you proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynist language?' asks @Keir_Starmer PM Rishi Sunak replies: 'There is no place for racism in our country. The govt I lead is living proof of that.' https://t.co/qXGLiMGYme 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/gWABClTS23
Hester's comments were "wrong and racist" according to the Prime Minister, but he won't hand back the huge sums donated to the Tories. The Prime Minister is right to say there's no place for racism in Britain, but it's clear it still has a home in this Tory Party. #PMQs
Rishi Sunak doubling down on not returning Frank Hester's £10m at PMQs right now. Says "he has rightly apologised" for the comments "and that remorse should be accepted".
Starmer: “is the Prime Minister proud to be bankrolled by someone using racist and misogynist language when he says that Diane Abbott makes you want to hate all black women?”
Rishi Sunak says Frank Hester's "remorse... should be accepted". A reminder that Hester still refuses to even admit making the comments, let alone say that they were racist or sexist #pmqs
Tories let slip they would take £10million more from donor they admit made 'racist' remark https://t.co/Skop7bMwzt
Tories let slip they would take £10million more from donor they admit made ‘racist’ remark https://t.co/mSdTsbHWbI
Minister says Tories would be willing to accept more cash from Hester as ‘we don’t think he’s a racist’ – UK politics live https://t.co/N2VwKb3NVv
Government minister refuses to rule out accepting more money from a Tory donor who made 'racist' remarks about MP Diane Abbott @kevinhollinrake said 'if somebody apologises for something they've done wrong, I don't think we should judge their character adversely on that basis' https://t.co/tspFtbCScg
The Conservatives do not plan to return the £10 million donated to the party by a major Tory backer accused of making racist comments, a minister has said ✍: @sophie_wing8, @bypatrickdaly & @ninallloyd https://t.co/hNUCcSV7KQ
Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake says he does not believe his party's biggest donor is a racist, despite alleged comments he made about former Labour MP Diane Abbott. https://t.co/ABHufyuFNp https://t.co/cmeRiYrEwp
Postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake says the Conservative Party would take another £10 million from Frank Hester. “On the basis that we don’t believe Mr Hester’s a racist, yes.” 👇🏼 https://t.co/6RE6AbLX9d
Diane Abbott row: Tory minister says they'd take more cash from donor Frank Hester https://t.co/8dbxzC8RG4
Appalling. Mr Hester's alleged comments were racist, his millions should be nowhere near the Conservatives. This speaks to a much wider problem. The Govt is seemingly happy to accept big donations from just about anyone, even if they are racist, sleazy or corrupt. https://t.co/tm7Dp1etlK
Appalling. Mr Hester's comments were racist, his millions should be nowhere near the Conservatives. This speaks to a much wider problem. The Govt are seemingly happy to accept big donations from just about anyone, even if they are racist, sleazy or corrupt. https://t.co/tm7Dp1etlK
"If you say racist things and don’t apologise for them that makes you racist but if you say something racist and then apologise that’s a different thing." Minister Kevin Hollinrake tells @TomSwarbrick1 he doesn't believe Tory donor Frank Hester is a racist. https://t.co/caIlen8ULm
Amazing stuff. Minister Says Tories Would Take Another £10 Million From Frank Hester Despite Diane Abbott Row Story 👇 https://t.co/QKqHBON5DQ
Minister Says Tories Would Take Another £10 Million From Frank Hester Despite Diane Abbott Row https://t.co/wTUVJn1JvI
'If he said I'd like to give you another £10m would you take it? Post Office Minister Kevin Holinrake is asked on #BBCBreakfast over alleged comments made by Tory donor Frank Hester about MP Diane Abbott which Number 10 have called 'racist and wrong' https://t.co/qXRV0UzrBv https://t.co/QEw5yL8otl
The Tories are prepared to take another £10 million from the wealthy donor condemned for “racism” against Diane Abbott, a minister says https://t.co/xgFFtB6qZD
Minister Kevin Hollingrake says to @TomSwarbrick1 that the party could take more money from Frank Hester as he is "not racist" ... despite making racist comments 🤔 "That's a judgement you've got to make at the time... Hester has apologised for what he has said... people make…
Tories would accept another £10m from donor slammed for 'racism' against Diane Abbott, says minister
'Is the Conservative party happy to spend the money?' Govt minister @kevinhollinrake tells Sky News 'yes, on the basis Tory donor Frank Hester is not a racist and he's apologised', following his alleged comments about MP Diane Abbott Latest: https://t.co/wnjALN9KaT 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/V672r0MJG6
NEW: Postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake tells @bbcbreakfast the Conservative Party would take another £10 million from Frank Hester. “On the basis that we don’t believe Mr Hester’s a racist, yes.”
NEW: Post office minister Kevin Hollinrake says the Tories would be willing to take another £10 million from Frank Hester.
The Tories have rebuffed calls to repay £10 million given to the party by a wealthy donor at the centre of a “racism” against Diane Abbott storm https://t.co/EJkDMWPGUs
'His comments are racist but it doesn't necessarily mean he's a racist.' Minister for postal affairs @kevinhollinrake says that the Tories "don't need to return the money" from Frank Hester, their biggest donor, for making comments about Diane Abbott. https://t.co/Als1Lul7Wl https://t.co/kMXGI063xj
Post Office Minister Kevin Hollinrake says the Tories aren't planning to give back Frank Hester's £10m donations "I don't think that would be the right thing to do," he tells @SkyNews
Wilfred Frost: should the Tory Party return the money that Frank Hester donated Kevin Hollinrake: "I don't think that's the right thing to do... his comments were clearly racist.. he's apologised.. I don't think we should judge his character on a private conversation... move on" https://t.co/XdasT4juVY
Asked if the Tories should hand back the £10 million they received from Frank Hester (who Rishi Sunak now says made racist comments about Diane Abbott), post office minister Kevin Hollinrake tells Sky: "I don't think that would be the right thing to do."
Tory donor’s comments about Diane Abbott ‘racist and wrong’, No 10 says https://t.co/6cYa7ZWH07
The PM's spokesperson has said alleged comments made by a Tory donor about Diane Abbott were "racist and wrong". Listen to Chris Mason's first reaction on the latest #BBCNewscast
Wednesday’s @guardian front page: Tory donor’s remarks were ‘racist and wrong’ - No 10 https://t.co/vUSDklKvml https://t.co/x4PB6KKh4w
GUARDIAN: Tory donor’s remarks were ‘racist and wrong’ - No 10 #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/kATtgZ3K7K
🔴 Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, has described comments made about Diane Abbott as “racist” despite government refusals to characterise them as such Read the full story below ⬇️ https://t.co/rPUQwY9gp7 https://t.co/H9dX4bIJj8
Kemi Badenoch labels Tory donor's comments ‘racist’ as Marcus Fysh calls on Sunak to ‘stand up for Dianne’ https://t.co/aMzP15A0zH
No10 spokesman now says "the comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong". That's despite them repeatedly refusing to do so all day - and sending ministers out to do the same. What a shambles.
Diane Abbott has now reported Frank Hester to the Met Police for his alleged call for her to be shot. As things stand, the Conservative party still intends to keep the £10 million he donated to them last year.
Tory donor alleged rant against Abbott is 'racist and wrong', No10 says https://t.co/kMrC4MRS2X
NEW: Sunak's spokesman says Frank Hester's comments were 'racist and wrong' but he has 'rightly apologised' - says 'where remorse is shown, it should be accepted'
Here we go. PM Spox says “The comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong. He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown it should be accepted. “The Prime Minister is clear there is no place for racism in public life and…
NEW: PM spox: “The comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong. He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown it should be accepted… 1/2
JUST IN: PM spokesman: “The comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong. He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown it should be accepted. " Not paying cash back.. yet.
BREAKING: Police have been contacted over comments a Tory donor allegedly made about MP Diane Abbott. 🔗 Read more https://t.co/bIanlkCFPn
Conservatives' biggest donor reported to police over Diane Abbott 'racist' comments - by @soph_husk https://t.co/FMNWG0CMpk
🚨 NEW: Tory donor Frank Hester has been reported to the Met Police over alleged remarks about MP Diane Abbot
BREAKING: Tories' biggest donor reported to police by Diane Abbott over 'racist' comments https://t.co/g9DQQH3I50
Kemi Badenoch has broken ranks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak by branding comments reportedly made by a major Conservative Party donor about MP Diane Abbott as “racist” ✍️: @sophie_wing8 https://t.co/spuU9sMgKm
Tory donor's alleged rant against Diane Abbott was 'racist', Kemi Badenoch says torpedoing No10's stance https://t.co/3M0sPCUAy3
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has said alleged comments made about Diane Abbott by a Tory donor were "racist" - but that there should be "space for forgiveness". 🔗 Read more https://t.co/bIanlkCFPn
Kemi Badenoch becomes first government minister to say Tory donor Frank Hester's comments were racist https://t.co/aMzP15A0zH
NEW: Kemi Badenoch Breaks Ranks To Say Frank Hester's Comments About Diane Abbott Were 'Racist' Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak remains tight-lipped ... https://t.co/bkj2uaLCuF
Tory donor alleged rant against Diane Abbott was 'racist' Kemi Badenoch says https://t.co/OjpZT49NPL
#BreakingNews Diane Abbott reports Tory donor to Met Police over ‘should be shot’ comments https://t.co/wFapls0jFi
Tory donor alleged remarks were racist, says Kemi Badenoch https://t.co/FRkmfHdv9S
Significant intervention here from Kemi Badenoch - Biz and trade secretary and equalities minister - who said Hester’s comments 'as reported, were racist' She is the first minister to break the line and say the remarks about Diane Abbott MP were racist https://t.co/LG0UzObEuO
Quite a different take to her Cabinet colleagues. @KemiBadenoch makes clear that alleged comments from Tory donor Frank Hester "as reported, were racist". Earlier, work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said he didn't think it was a "race-based comment". https://t.co/DYnTOZumUB
Diane Abbott reports Frank Hester to police over comments that she ‘should be shot’ Good on her. 👏 https://t.co/A1DGpu7i1S
Kemi Badenoch goes further than Mel Stride and Graham Stuart — and indeed, 10 Downing Street / the Prime Minister — by describing Frank Hester's remarks as racist
Kemi Badenoch becomes first government minister to concede that Frank Hester's remarks were racist 👇 https://t.co/qvkVjfNlTC
NEW: No10 still in knots over the Frank Hester stuff. PM’s spokeswoman says: “What is alleged and reported to have been said would clearly have been unacceptable, but we are not going to characterise further alleged comments from source reporting.” Won’t say it was racist.
Diane Abbott reports Tory donor to Met Police over ‘should be shot’ comments https://t.co/n5pMkPaf2o
Absolutely speechless. Frank Hester’s comments towards Diane were racist and misogynistic. Lord Marland’s defence of his comments based on “he can’t be because” is pathetic. Racism has no place in public life and Frank Hester’s money has no place in the Tory party. https://t.co/Jk4yr4VqOC
Downing Street has described comments reportedly made by a major Conservative Party donor about MP Diane Abbott as “unacceptable” but has refused to say whether they were racist ✍️: @sophie_wing8, @cjmckeon and @bypatrickdaly https://t.co/8Q5xFk2JaQ
Diane Abbott says Tory donor Frank Hester’s remarks ‘frightening’ https://t.co/p4UqMnzGA1
“They were very stupid remarks,” Conservative MP Kwasi Kwarteng says The former chancellor tells #PoliticsLive Tory donor Frank Hester's alleged comments about Diane Abbott are "racist, sexist and totally unacceptable" https://t.co/Mppwb40ZEC https://t.co/lpX4WoLGTB
Diane Abbott calls Tory donor's comments frightening https://t.co/ihb9C8ycWQ
No10 spokesperson says Frank Hester's comments are "unacceptable" but won't say why Won't say they are racist "I am not going to make comments on hypothetical comments.... while we wouldn't usually comment on sourced reports, what is alleged to have been said, those comments in…
Rishi Sunak thinks what Frank Hester is alleged to have said is “unacceptable” if he did say it but his spokesman is unable to say why he thinks it is unacceptable or if it was racist
No10 having a very tough time on Frank Hester Rishi Sunak thinks his comments are unacceptable, spox says at 11.30 Lobby briefing But unable to say why they’re unacceptable Won’t say they were racist Carbon copy of the mess they got into on Lee Anderson