LEADING BLACK Conservatives have finally stepped forward to condemn the racist comments made by Frank Hester about long-serving Hackney and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott.

On Monday The Guardian reported that Frank Hester, an entrepreneur who has reportedly donated £10 million to the party, said in 2019 during a meeting at his company’s headquarters that Diane Abbott made him  “want to hate all Black women” and that she needed “to be shot”.

The comments brought swift condemnation on social media with politicians from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green party as well as a range of other commentators calling for the Conservatives to return the money donated by Hester.

An online petition has also been launched demanding that Hester be stripped of his OBE.

Hester has since apologised, saying he was “deeply sorry” for his “rude” comments about Abbott, but added that they had “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.

When news about the comments broke in The Guardian there was initially silence from Downing Street. Yesterday morning, amidst mounting public anger government ministers said the comments were “unacceptable” but that they should not be described as “racist” or “sexist”.

Among them was senior Tory minister Mel Stride. He said that while Hester’s comments “were clearly inappropriate” people should “move on”.

Speaking to broadcasters, Stride said: “I think the critical point here is I don’t think what he was saying was a gender-based or a race-based comment, but it was clearly inappropriate.”

There was also no comment from senior Black Conservatives such as business secretary Kemi Badenoch, home secretary James Cleverly and former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey.

Many observers expressed surprise and disappointment at the initial silence from the party’s  prominent Black figures, questioning their commitment to combating racism within the Conservative party.

However, yesterday Badenoch appeared to break rank with the party leadership to denounce Hester’s comments as racist.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, she said: “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.

“Some people make flippant comments without thinking of this context – this is why there needs to be space for forgiveness where there is contrition.”

Festus Akinbusoye, Bedfordshire’s police and crime commissioner, the first Black Briton to be elected to the role and a Conservative party member wrote on X: “I am extremely disappointed and angry at the reported racist abuse aimed at Diane Abbott and others by a supporter of the Conservative Party.”

He said it was not representative of the party that he, “recognises, supports, and engages with on a day-to-day basis” and there can be “absolutely no room for racism” in our society.

Akinbusoye went on: “As someone who has been on the receiving end of hate-inspired threats, I know first-hand the impact these have on the mental health of victims and their ability to go about their normal lives. 

“For my part, I will keep doing everything within my power to build a society that shuns any form of behaviour that negatively targets people because of their race, religion, gender, sexuality or other characteristics.

“Differences are perfectly acceptable in a free and democratic society; prejudice and inciting violence are not.”

Speaking on Radio4’s Today programme author and former Number 10 advisor Samuel Kasumu said Hester’s apology was not enough and that he should use his “time and resources” to show he was sorry for his comments about Abbott.

He said that he would never have got a job in Number 10 himself had it not been for Abbott’s “historic” lead.

“She ran so that people like me can walk,” he told the programme.

 “As a black Brit, Diane Abbott is very historically significant. She was first elected in 1987, the year I was born. I wouldn’t have been a special adviser in Downing St if it wasn’t for Diane Abbott. Kemi Badenoch, Kwasi Kwarteng, James Cleverly, David Lammy wouldn’t be where they were today if it wasn’t for Diane Abbott.

“For many black Britons every time Diane is attacked we do feel it… we feel a sense of hurt because of her historical significance. Regardless of what our politics may be, and our politics do differ, she ran so that people like me can walk.”

In a statement Abbott said Hester’s comments were “frightening”.

In a statement to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, responding to the comments the Hackney and Stoke Newington MP said: “It is frightening. I live in Hackney and do not drive so I find myself at weekends popping on a bus or even walking places more than most MPs. I am a single woman and that makes me vulnerable anyway. But to hear someone talking like this is worrying.”

She also said the “fact that two MPs have been murdered in recent years makes talk like this all the more alarming”.

Hester, who gave the Conservatives £10m last year, made the remarks about Abbott while criticising a female executive at another organisation during a meeting at his company’s headquarters.

Downing Street initially declined to describe his comments as racist.

But later Mr Sunak’s spokesperson said: “The comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong.

“He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and where remorse is shown it should be accepted.

“The prime minister is clear there is no place for racism in public life, and as the first British-Asian prime minister leading one of the most ethnically diverse Cabinets in our history, the UK is living proof of that fact.”

However leading Black politicians and commentators were among those who took to social media to swiftly condemn Hester’s remarks.

Among them were Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “This is absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. So she should be ‘shot’ just because she is a black woman. You may disagree with someone, not share their views and opinions but to incite racist hate is totally unacceptable.”

Dawn Butler, MP for Brent  Central wrote: “This vile man has now been bombarding Diane with messages. Every single MP incl @RishiSunak needs to call this out You can not be selective about MPs safety because this racist gives you £10m! Diane now being hounded this is unacceptable If anyone knows him ask him to STOP.”

A post from the Labour Party demanded: “Rishi Sunak, return the money your party has been given by Frank Hester.”