It has been four days since the Guardian reported on the extraordinary remarks by the Tory donor Frank Hester about Diane Abbott. They elicited widespread condemnation for being racist and misogynistic. Here are some of the key voices – and what they have said:
Diane Abbott MP
“Reading his remarks, I was upset but not surprised. This is partly because I am hardened to racist abuse. I receive hundreds of abusive emails, phone calls and letters monthly, and the numbers shoot up whenever I am in the media. Most of this correspondence targets my appearance, questions my intelligence and features classic racist lines such as: ‘go back to where you come from’. Recently, the abuse has taken an even darker turn, with accusations of child abuse. For instance: ‘If you and your child want to fuck children, go back to one of your sick third-world shitholes and bury yourself, sicko.’”
Rishi Sunak, prime minister
“The comments were wrong and they were racist. He [Hester] has rightly apologised for them and that remorse should be accepted. There is no place for racism in Britain, and the government that I lead is living proof of that.”
Keir Starmer, Labour leader
“Those comments about Diane Abbott are just abhorrent. Diane has been a trailblazer, she has paved the way for others. She has probably faced more abuse than any other politician over the years on a sustained basis.”
Kemi Badenoch, business secretary
“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. MPs have a difficult job balancing multiple interests – often under threats of intimidation, as we saw recently in parliament. Some people make flippant comments without thinking of this context. This is why there needs to be space for forgiveness where there is contrition.”
Samuel Kasumu, former adviser to Boris Johnson on civil society and communities
“As a black Brit, Diane Abbott is someone who is very historically significant. So it’s very important to note that that every time Diane is attacked we do feel it. We feel a sense of hurt because of her historical significance. She ran so that people like me could walk.”
Dr Alan Stout and Dr Andrew Buist, co-chairs of the BMA general practitioners committee
“There is no room for racism or sexism in the NHS, and the committee believes he [Hester] should resign his position with immediate effect.”
Dr Steve Taylor, spokesperson for the general practice committee of the Doctors’ Association UK
“The Doctors’ Association UK GP committee have significant concerns over the recent comments reportedly made by Frank Hester, owner of TPP, one of the major suppliers of GP IT systems. The GP workforce is a diverse community of people and these comments are deeply upsetting. We agree with other GP bodies that it calls into question the leadership of TPP.”
Jacqueline McKenzie, human rights lawyer
“This has hit [Diane Abbott] to the core and that is what it is meant to do. It is meant to diminish her, it is meant to diminish me, it is meant to diminish all black women.”
George Osborne, former Conservative chancellor
“[It] falls into the definition of the extremism rules. That is the paradox. The Tories are saying we are not going to give money to extremists whilst taking money from someone who appears by their own definition to be an extremist.”
Andy Street, Conservative mayor of the West Midlands
“I would think about the company I kept and I would give that money back. I have to give you my view rather than what the party should do, but I have thought about how I would handle that situation.”
Chris Patten, Tory peer and former cabinet minister
“If he’s made remarks which are racist, how can you in a reasonable way take 10 million smackers of his money? It seems to me that it’s pretty open and shut, as people like Andy Street and others have said. So I think the sooner this is brought to an end the better.”
Sayeeda Warsi, Conservative peer and former party chair
“Elections fought on the money of donors who make racist and offensive statements make for dangerous election campaigns.”
A spokesperson for Frank Hester
“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. 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.”
Metropolitan police
“On Monday, 11 March officers from the parliamentary liaison and investigation team were contacted in relation to a report about an MP that appeared in the Guardian. We are assessing the matter and are liaising with West Yorkshire police as the alleged incident is believed to have taken place in Leeds. Officers from the parliamentary liaison and investigation team remain in contact with the MP.”
