The Tory racism row looks set to run on for some time. West Yorkshire Police today launched an investigation into alleged racist comments made by top Tory donor, Frank Hester. Officers are to investigate reports that Hester, a Leeds businessman who has given £10 million to the Tories, said former Labour MP Diane Abbott made him want to ‘hate all black women’.
Sunak has been accused of handling the situation badly
The alleged comments date back to a meeting at Hester’s headquarters in 2019. Hester has since apologised for making ‘rude’ comments but insisted they were not racist as they ‘had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin’. Hester is also reported to have said Abbott, the former shadow home secretary and longest serving black MP, ‘should be shot’.
The row has already caused Sunak a big political problem. The Prime Minister has been accused of handling the situation badly after several of his ministers initially refused to say the comments were racist – only for Sunak to say they were racist after his business secretary Kemi Badenoch took to social media to say the comments were.
Police working on the probe – named ‘Operation Brassminster’ – say they are ‘keen to hear from anyone who could directly assist our investigation’: In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: ‘We recognise the strong reaction to these allegations and appreciate everyone who has contacted us since the article was published’.
Officers say they are trying to find out whether a crime was committed.
For now, the news of the investigation will put further pressure on Sunak to return the money donated so far, or refuse to take further donations. So far, there is little sign that Downing Street is keen to do either.
Racism row / Police investigate Tory donor’s Diane Abbott comments
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22.03.2024
The Tory racism row looks set to run on for some time. West Yorkshire Police today launched an investigation into alleged racist comments made by top Tory donor, Frank Hester. Officers are to investigate reports that Hester, a Leeds businessman who has given £10 million to the Tories, said former Labour MP Diane Abbott made him want to ‘hate all black women’.
Sunak has been accused of handling the situation badly
The alleged........
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