The health tech company owned by the Conservative party donor Frank Hester has been dropped as a sponsor from Leeds Pride after his remarks about Diane Abbott were widely condemned as racist and misogynistic.
Last month the Guardian revealed that during a meeting in 2019 Hester had said Abbott, Britain’s first black female MP, made you “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”. These comments are now the subject of an investigation by West Yorkshire police.
Hester has apologised for his remarks, which he said were “rude”, but insisted they were not motivated by race or gender.
On Wednesday, the organisers of Leeds Pride, Yorkshire’s biggest celebration of LGBTQ+ life, said they were ending their sponsorship deal with Hester’s company, TPP, in a stance against discrimination.
The Conservative party has continued to reject calls to return more than £10m it has received from Hester in the last year amid reports that it also received a further £5m from the tech entrepreneur.
In a statement confirming it was cutting ties with TPP, first reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds Pride said: “This move comes after discussions with the board of directors and collaborative partners, reflecting a stand against discrimination and in support of creating an inclusive atmosphere.”
The paper reported disgust in the city at TPP’s sponsorship of the two-day festival after the Guardian’s report of Hester’s remarks. It quoted one resident as saying: “I’m absolutely sick to my stomach that Pride are taking a company’s money whose values are so diametrically opposed to the spirit of Pride and I’d like to see them give back the sponsorship money and remove TPP from all Pride advertising.”
In its statement, Leeds Pride added: “In light of recent developments involving alleged racist comments made by the TPP’s chief executive, it became imperative for Leeds Pride to reassess its association with the company. The decision to terminate the sponsorship agreement underscores the organisation’s dedication to upholding the values of diversity within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.
“Leeds Pride acknowledges the concerns voiced by members of the community and recognises the importance of taking steps to uphold its principles. Through this decision, Leeds Pride asserts its position as an advocate for inclusivity, striving to ensure that Pride celebrations remain a platform for equality.”
Hester’s company has been a sponsor of Leeds Pride since 2017 and said in a post on X last month that it was “Proud to be supporting Leeds Pride again!” at this year’s two-day festival in July.
In 2017, Hester explained why the company had chosen to sponsor the event. In a post on Facebook he said: “Since TPP started, nearly 20 years ago, we’ve always tried to strive for a workplace culture that’s a little different – a flat hierarchy and a completely open environment where everyone feels included and cared for. Over the years we’ve welcomed all kinds of employees from different backgrounds into our offices and our open-minded, creative, passionate staff are one of the best things about us.”
He added: “Sponsoring Leeds Pride 2017 is a great way for us to celebrate the diversity that exists in our local community, as well as in our own company.”
TPP has been approached for comment.
