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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Peter Walker Deputy political editor

Diane Abbott accuses Tories of aiming to play ‘race card’ before election

Diane Abbott
Diane Abbott, now an independent, also wants an apology from Labour for abusive internal comments about her. Photograph: Beresford Hodge/Reuters

Diane Abbott has accused the Conservatives of aiming to “play the race card” in the general election, saying the abuse she faced from Tory donor Frank Hester epitomised this approach.

In a comment piece for the Guardian, the veteran MP said Hester’s remarks left her “upset but not surprised”, given the amount of racist abuse she receives. Hester said in a 2019 meeting that he did not hate all black women but seeing Abbott on TV meant “you just want to hate all black women because she’s there”. He also said she “should be shot”.

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