UK police are investigating alleged remarks by the Conservative party’s biggest donor about Diane Abbott, Britain’s first female black MP.
Frank Hester, a healthcare technology entrepreneur who donated £10 million to the Tories last year, reportedly said in 2019 that looking at Ms Abbott made “you just want to hate all black women” and that she “need[s] to be shot”.
The remarks were reported by the Guardian to have been made during a meeting at the Leeds headquarters of Mr Hester’s company The Phoenix Partnership (TPP).
West Yorkshire Police said in a statement on Friday that officers were “working to establish the facts” and “ascertain whether a crime had been committed”.
“We recognise the strong reaction to these allegations and appreciate everyone who has contacted us since the article was published,” it added.
The investigation will add to pressure on the Conservatives to return millions of pounds in donations by Mr Hester after the party became embroiled in a dispute over whether the remarks were racist.
Downing Street initially refused to describe the comments as racist but later called them “racist and wrong”, more than 24 hours after they were first reported.
In a statement last week, TPP said Mr Hester accepted making “rude” remarks about Ms Abbott in a past private meeting but said his criticism “had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.
At the time of the alleged remarks, Ms Abbott was a Labour MP, but she has sat as an independent in the House of Commons since last year after being suspended by the party.
[ Mark Paul: Diane Abbott racism rows highlight baffling ways of British politicsOpens in new window ]
Ms Abbott, who entered the Commons in 1987, said in a statement last week that Mr Hester’s comments were “frightening” and came at a time of heightened risk for MPs.
“The fact that two MPs have been murdered in recent years makes talk like this all the more alarming,” she added, referring to the murders of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative MP Sir David Amess in 2021.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak told MPs last week that Mr Hester had apologised and that his “remorse should be accepted”, but the Scottish Tories demanded the UK Conservative party “carefully review” its donations from the businessman.
TPP has been awarded more than £48 million in public sector contracts over the past decade, including one as recently as February.
Labour party chair Anneliese Dodds previously said Mr Hester’s remarks were “reprehensible” and called for Mr Sunak to return his donations “in full without delay” and to turn down further contributions, after reports the Tories were considering accepting a further £5 million contribution.
“It is frankly staggering that, after his repugnant racist and sexist remarks, the Conservative party are still trying to arrange a donation from Frank Hester,” Ms Dodds added.
Business secretary Kemi Badenoch – the first cabinet minister to describe Mr Hester’s remarks as racist – said this week that the Tory party should keep the £10 million given by Mr Hester because he had apologised.
She told Times Radio that his remarks were “historical” and that the row reflected an obsession in the media with “trivia”.
Downing Street declined to comment, stating the investigation was a matter for the police. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024