An investigation has been launched into alleged comments made by a Conservative Party donor about former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott.
West Yorkshire Police are investigating alleged racist comments made by Tory party donor Frank Hester at a meeting in 2019.
The force said the investigation had been passed over from the Metropolitan Police as the meeting took place in Horsforth, Leeds.
They added that the Metropolitan Police had been contacted on March 11 about a report in The Guardian.
West Yorkshire Police is investigating the alleged comments made by Frank Hester about Diane Abbott
PA/Getty/Google Maps
In remarks first reported by The Guardian, Hester said the Hackney MP made him "want to hate all black women... I don't hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot."
A spokesperson from West Yorkshire Police said: "This is the first time the comments had been brought to the attention of police.Our officers have since been working to establish the facts and to ultimately ascertain whether a crime has been committed.
"We recognise the strong reaction to these allegations and appreciate everyone who has contacted us since the article was published.
"As we continue our inquiry, we are keen to hear from anyone who could directly assist our investigation."
LATEST POLITICAL NEWS
Independent MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott PAThe alleged remarks were said to have been made during a meeting at Hester's company, the Phoenix Partnership (TPP) in Leeds in 2019.
Labour party chair Anneliese Dodds called the alleged comments "clearly, unequivocally racist and sexist."
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that the alleged comments by Hester were "abhorrent" adding that "Diane has been a trailblazer, she has paved the way for others, she's probably faced more abuse than any other politician over the years on a sustained basis."
A Downing Street spokesman called Hester's alleged comments were "unacceptable" they did not specify why.
A statement from TPP in the wake of the remarks being published said the businessman "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”.
TPP said Hester abhorred racism, "not least because he experienced it as the child of Irish immigrants in the 1970s."
It added: "He rang Diane Abbott twice today to try to apologise directly for the hurt he has caused her, and is deeply sorry for his remarks. He wishes to make it clear that he regards racism as a poison which has no place in public life."