Rishi Sunak has slammed Conservative donor Frank Hester’s alleged remarks about Diane Abbott as “racist and wrong” in what marks the latest flashpoint in an ongoing row.
Downing Street had previously steered clear of calling the reported comments racist, but had said they were “unacceptable”.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister called what Hester said “racist and wrong”, but noted that he had “rightly apologised for the offence caused”.
Hester is alleged to have said Abbott made him “want to hate all black women”, and that she “should be shot”.
Sunak said Hester’s alleged comments were "racist"
PA
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch had taken to social media earlier this afternoon to address Hester’s alleged words.
She said: “Hester’s 2019 comments, as reported, were racist. 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.
“It’s never acceptable to conflate someone’s views with the colour of their skin.”
Police are now understood to have been contacted about the alleged comments, with Scotland Yard saying officers from its Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team were in touch with an MP over a report that appeared in the Guardian.
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Kemi Badenoch found herself at odds with Downing Street earlier today over remarks made by Tory donor Frank Hester about Diane Abbott
PAHealth minister Maria Caulfield had told the BBC she thought the alleged comments were racist and “not something we should be kind of excusing in any way”.
But ministers sent on the morning media round defended Hester, in what looks like sign of internal divisions within the Conservative party.
Energy minister Graham Stuart said that, while the alleged remarks were “ridiculous”, he would “hesitate” to describe them as racist.
Cabinet minister Mel Stride argued that Hester’s reported words were not “gender-based or race-based”, adding: “He has apologised and I think we need to move on from that.”
Hester allegedly said seeing Abbott on TV made him "just want to hate all black women"
PA
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson had told reporters: “I wouldn’t usually comment on alleged words, second-hand accounts etc., but, as Minister Stuart said this morning, what is alleged and reported to have been said is clearly unacceptable.”
But the PM’s latest quotes on Hester, who has since apologised for the remarks, suggest Badenoch may have forced his hand.
In a new statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson 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.”
The Guardian reported that Hester is alleged, during a meeting in 2019, to have said: "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.
"[An executive at another firm] and Diane Abbott need to be shot. She’s stupid … If we can get [the executive] being unprofessional, we can get her sacked. It’s not as good as her dying.
"It would be much better if she died. She’s consuming resource. She’s eating food that other people could eat. You know?".
A spokesperson for Frank Hester, who has given £10million to the Conservative Party in the last year alone, said: "Frank Hester accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbot in a private meeting several years ago, but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin.
"The Guardian is right when it quotes Frank saying he abhors racism, not least because he experienced it as the child of Irish immigrants in the 1970s.
"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."