Tory Unease Over Party's Donor Race Row Response Is Growing

Fresh discontent is brewing among Conservatives over Downing Street's response to the party's biggest donor reportedly making racist remarks about black MP Diane Abbott.

On Monday The Guardian reported Frank Hester – who has donated £10m to the Conservative party in the last year – made the remarks during a meeting in 2019, where he allegedly said he believed Abbott, the UK's longest serving black MP, "should be shot" and made him "want to hate all black women". 

“It’s like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV and you’re just like, I hate, you just want to hate all black women because she’s there, and I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot," Hester reportedly said.

In a statement Abbot described Hester's alleged remarks as "frightening". She added that "the fact that two MPs have been murdered in recent years makes talk like this all the more alarming."

In a post on X on Tuesday afternoon, Trade secretary and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch said the remarks were "racist", but felt "there needs to be space for forgiveness where there is contrition". 

"Hester’s 2019 comments, as reported, were racist," said Badenoch. "I welcome his apology. Abbott and I disagree on a lot. But the idea of linking criticism of her, to being a black woman is appalling."

In a statement following The Guardian's report, Hester said he accepted he was "rude about Diane Abbott in a private meeting" but claimed it "had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin". 

While a number of senior Tories have condemend the language reportedly used by Hester, they have fallen short of describing the Tory donor's remarks as racist. Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride instead said the comments were