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Tory donor’s comments on Diane Abbott spark racism debate

13 March 2024182 views0

The businessman and healthcare entrepreneur Frank Hester has been widely condemned after alleged comments about the Hackney MP Diane Abbott have surfaced.

Hester donated £10 million to the Tory party last year, including a £5 million personal donation to Rishi Sunak while the further £5 million came from his healthcare firm, The Phoenix Partnership.

In 2019, the Guardian reported that Hester allegedly said, “It’s like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and you’re just like… 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.”

Abbott is currently suspended from the Labour Party after facing criticism for antisemitic remarks. In 2023, Tomiwa Owalade wrote a letter in The Observer titled “Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. It’s far more complicated”, noting that “Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from ‘racism'”.

In response, Abbott wrote that “They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable. It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism.”

She added, “In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships.”

Following the backlash, Abbott issued a statement saying she wishes to “wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them”.

The Guardian followed up reports on Hester with further allegations of racism made by former TPP employees. Speaking at TTP headquarters, Hester is said to have asked if asked if there was “no room for the Indians, then” before adding, “Climb on the roof, like on the roof of the train there maybe?”

He also allegedly said, “I’m looking forward to going to Malaysia, so that I can make new jokes – I don’t know any jokes about Malaysian people but I’m sure we’ll find them.”

A spokesperson released a statement, saying, “Frank Hester accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbott in a private meeting several years ago but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin.”

Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman initially said they were “clearly unacceptable”.

Later, a further statement was released, which said “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 as the first British-Asian prime minister leading one of the most ethnically diverse cabinets in our history, the UK is living proof of that fact.”

Abbott published a letter in the Guardian in response to Hester’s comments, saying, “Hester may be the Tories’ biggest donor, but this is not only an issue for one party as the Forde inquiry showed”.

Racism within both the Labour and Tory party has become a key issue with parliament in the lead up to a general election. Every decision and statement released is being scrutinised for potentially increasing political division – so let’s take a look at media coverage.

Ministers’ initial refusal to say Frank Hester’s comments were racist speaks volumes

The Guardian

Rishi Sunak labels comments by millionaire donor who said Diane Abbott ‘should be shot’ as ‘racist and wrong’ – and adds his remorse ‘should be accepted’

Daily Mail