Chancellor Rishi Sunak has discussed allegations of racist remarks made by Conservative Party donor Frank Hester with Sir Graham Brady, as the party faces backlash and calls for the return of donations.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has held a private discussion with Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, amid allegations that Conservative Party donor, Frank Hester, made racist remarks about former Labour MP Diane Abbott. Sky News reported that this meeting occurred on Monday night, highlighting internal concerns regarding the party’s direction following Hester’s controversial comments. Hester is reported to have donated £10 million to the Conservative Party last year and is alleged to have said he wanted to “hate all Black women” upon seeing Abbott on television, even suggesting that she “should be shot.”
The comments, made at a company meeting in 2019, have been widely condemned, with Downing Street describing them as “racist and wrong.” Hester has apologized directly to Abbott, stating that his remarks were meant to be about her personally, not her gender or skin color. This incident has stirred considerable backlash, leading to a defection within the Conservative Party and calls for action against such behavior.
Additionally, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has demanded the Conservative Party return Hester’s donations and criticized the party for not adequately addressing racist and anti-Muslim comments within its ranks. Cabinet Minister Kemi Badenoch and various politicians have also labeled Hester’s comments as racist, igniting a broader discussion on racism and misogyny in politics. Scotland Yard is investigating the situation, underlining the severity of the allegations and the growing scrutiny over how political parties handle donations and address issues of racism and discrimination within their circles.
