- By Sam Francis
- Political reporter, BBC News
Image source, Getty Images
Diane Abbott has said comments allegedly made by a top Tory donor that the MP made him “want to hate all black women” and that she needed “to be shot” were “frightening”.
Britain’s longest-serving black MP said the “fact that two MPs have been murdered in recent years makes talk like this all the more alarming”.
Mr Hester has apologised for making “rude” comments about Ms Abbott.
But he said his remarks “had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.
A Downing Street spokesman called Mr Hester’s alleged comments “unacceptable” but without specifying why.
Labour party chair Anneliese Dodds called the alleged comments “clearly, unequivocally racist and sexist”.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ms Abbott said as a “single woman” she was already “vulnerable” when walking or taking a bus in her Hackney constituency.
“For all of my career as an MP I have thought it important, not to live in a bubble, but to mix and mingle with ordinary people,” she added.
“The fact that two MPs have been murdered in recent years makes talk like this all the more alarming.”
Watch: Kwasi Kwarteng says Hester comments ‘clearly racist, and clearly sexist’
Ms Abbott, who is suspended from sitting as a Labour MP, said she is “hoping for public support from Keir Starmer” in the wake of Mr Hester’s comments.
Labour withdrew the whip from Ms Abbott last year after she said Irish, Jewish and Traveller people were not subject to racism “all their lives”. She withdrew her remarks and apologised “for any anguish caused”.
Labour leader Sir Keir told ITV’s Lorraine programme that the alleged comments by Mr Hester were “abhorrent”.
“And Diane has been a trailblazer, she has paved the way for others, she’s probably faced more abuse than any other politician over the years on a sustained basis,” he added.
‘Should be shot’
Mr Hester, who gave the Conservatives £10m last year, allegedly made the remarks about Ms Abbott while criticising a female executive at another organisation during a meeting at his company’s headquarters.
The Guardian reported that he went on to say: “It’s like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and you’re just like I hate, you just want to hate all black women because she’s there, and I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot.
“[The executive] and Diane Abbott need to be shot.”
At the time, Ms Abbott was shadow home secretary under former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The BBC has not heard a recording, or been able to independently verify the alleged remarks.
Mr Hester’s spokesperson said that his statement is not a confirmation of the alleged quotes in The Guardian.
Work and Pension Secretary Mel Stride defended Mr Hester’s alleged comments, claiming they were “inappropriate” but not “race-based”.
But former Tory chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng said the alleged remarks were “clearly” racist and sexist, adding: “I think Diane was right to point out the call to violence, even in a flippant way, is really inappropriate.”
He said he had not heard “an independent corroboration”, and did not know the context in which the remarks were expressed, but said what was reported was “racist, sexist and totally unacceptable”.
