Diane Abbott says it is ‘frightening’ to hear what Tory donor Frank Hester said about her – as it happened

Diane Abbott in August 2023. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

5.45pm GMT

Afternoon summary

• Labour has written to Rishi Sunak calling for him to hand back £10m in donations from the Conservatives’ biggest ever donor, after it emerged he told colleagues that looking at Diane Abbott made you “want to hate all black women” and said the MP “should be shot”.

• Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary and minister for women and equalities, has said that Frank Hester’s 2019 comments about Diane Abbott, as reported, were racist. (See 5.17pm.)

• Diane Abbott has said it is “frightening” to hear of the remarks made by Conservative donor Frank Hester.

• James Cleverly, the home secretary, has said international students may be “undermining the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system” by using university courses as a cheap way of getting work visas.

• Children will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at gender identity clinics, NHS England has confirmed. As PA Media reports, the government said it welcomed the “landmark decision”, adding it would help ensure care is based on evidence and is in the “best interests of the child”. Puberty blockers, which pause the physical changes of puberty such as breast development or facial hair, will now only be available to children as part of clinical research trials.

Updated at 5.48pm GMT

5.38pm GMT

Maria Caulfield, the health minister, has also said that Frank Hester’s comments were racist if he said what was reported, the BBC’s Ewan Murrie says.

Comments allegedly made by Frank Hester about Diane Abbott were racist, says health minister Maria Caulfield. She told the BBC: "I personally do find [the alleged remarks] racist. It's not something that we should be... excusing in anyway."

— Ewan Murrie (@emurrie91) March 12, 2024

Comments allegedly made by Frank Hester about Diane Abbott were racist, says health minister Maria Caulfield. She told the BBC: “I personally do find [the alleged remarks] racist. It’s not something that we should be... excusing in anyway.”