Tories 'given further £5million' from 'racist rant' donor Frank Hester The healthcare entrepreneur allegedly said Diane Abbott made him ‘want to hate all black women’ Evening Standard · Mar 14, 2024
I’d like Diane Abbott to be Labour MP again, says Angela Rayner Deputy leader also says she does not know why Abbott has not received an apology about racism she has faced within party The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024
Diane Abbott’s chances of getting whip back appear remote despite Hester row Senior figures including deputy leader want to see MP back in fold but Starmer is firm that he does not want to ‘conflate’ issues The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024
Frank Hester’s racist remarks should be a seminal moment for British politics Letters: Dr Arun Midha, formerly of the select committee on standards, says all political parties must now stand against racism in their actions and words. Plus letters from supporters in Abbott’s constituency and the NHS, and other readers The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024
Growing calls for Diane Abbott to be restored as Labour MP Ms Abbott has sat as an independent MP since April after the Labour whip was withdrawn Evening Standard · Mar 14, 2024
Tories urged to return ‘further £5m donation made by Frank Hester’ Scottish Tory leader says all of Hester’s donations should be reviewed after racist and misogynistic comments The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024
Gove: Hester remarks not extremist and warrant ‘Christian forgiveness’ Senior Tory says donor’s ‘horrific’ comment that Diane Abbott should be shot unlikely to be investigated by new taskforce The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024
Angela Rayner says she wants to see Diane Abbott get Labour whip restored – as it happened Deputy Labour leader says party must follow procedures but says she would personally like MP to have Labour whip restored The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024
Thursday’s briefing: Will the Conservatives hand back a major donor’s cash after his Diane Abbott comments? In today’s newsletter: The derogatory statements from Frank Hester raise uncomfortable questions about political fundraising in the UK The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024
This is the Tory party now: so devoid of values and leadership it can’t respond to blatantly racist remarks Sunak should have immediately returned Frank Hester’s £10m. The PM’s speech about hate suddenly seems a long time ago, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle The Guardian - UK · Mar 14, 2024
Diane Abbott accuses Tories of aiming to play ‘race card’ before election Exclusive: MP says abusive words of Tory donor Frank Hester did not surprise her and that Tories have run out of options The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024
Frank Hester’s ugly words about me are a reminder: all parties, including Labour, must stand against racism Hester may be the Tories’ biggest donor, but this is not only an issue for one party as the Forde inquiry showed, says Diane Abbott MP The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024
Sunak under growing pressure from Tories to return £10m Hester donation West Midlands mayor and Scottish Conservatives openly question PM’s position that donor’s apology to Diane Abbott closed matter The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024
From ‘move on’ to ‘racist and wrong’: how the Tory line on Frank Hester shifted An incoherent response to the donor’s remarks has raised questions about Rishi Sunak’s political nous The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024
The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024 Frank Hester’s £10m donation to the Tories is a priceless gift to Labour Rishi Sunak was already struggling to keep up a brave face over the Post Office IT scandal. Then Keir Starmer stood up
The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024 Tories should give up £10m Frank Hester donation, most voters say Exclusive: Poll suggests public want to see consequences for offensive remarks, and many favour giving money to anti-racism charity
Top News · Mar 13, 2024 Conservative Party Refuses To Return Donation Amid Racism Controversy The Conservative government in Britain faces backlash for not returning a donation from a donor who made racist comments towards Black lawmaker Diane Abbott.
Evening Standard · Mar 13, 2024 Diane Abbott urges Keir Starmer in face-to-face talk to restore her as a Labour MP after new racism row Veteran London MP also slams Tories for playing ‘race card’ and criticises Commons Speaker too
The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024 Key health figures call for NHS to cut ties with Tory donor Frank Hester Hester, who made comments widely condemned as racist, has seen his firm TPP paid over £400m by NHS and other state bodies since 2016
The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024 Speaker fails to let Diane Abbott speak in PMQs debate on Tory donor’s remarks Lindsay Hoyle faces fresh controversy after anger over his decision-making in Gaza debate last month
Evening Standard · Mar 13, 2024 Rishi Sunak's fraught PMQs: from denouncing extremism to defending Tory donor who attacked Diane Abbott PM refuses to hand back Frank Hester’s money as Sir Keir Starmer accuses Sunak of being ‘scared’ of his own party
The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024 Sunak says public should accept Frank Hester’s apology for Abbott remarks Sunak comes under pressure at prime minister’s questions over refusal to pay back £10m Hester donated
Evening Standard · Mar 13, 2024 OPINION - The Standard View: Condemning racism should not be hard What first attracted the Conservative Party to defend the millionaire donor, Frank Hester, who made racist comments about Diane Abbott? Mr Hester has since apologised for saying that Ms Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving black MP, made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.
The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024 Sunak faces growing calls to return £10m donated to Tories by Frank Hester West Midlands mayor says he would return money, after No 10 says Hester’s comments about Diane Abbott were racist
The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2024 Abbott criticises speaker over PMQs and asks Starmer to restore the whip – as it happened Hackney MP was not given chance to ask a question despite comments about her from Tory donor