Minister warns against ‘cancelling’ Tory donors over comments about Diane Abbott

Frank Hurst reportedly said former Labor MP Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women”, with a minister refusing to say whether the Conservative Party should return funds to one of its biggest donors.

On Monday, the Guardian published an allegation against the chief executive of the Phoenix Partnership, which donated £10m to the Conservative Party last year, with the newspaper also claiming he said Ms Abbott “should be shot”.

In a statement posted on X, Mr Hester admitted he had Made “rude” comments about Ms Abbotthe was “deeply sorry” for the incident, but said it had “nothing to do with her gender or the color of her skin.”

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Energy Secretary Graham Stewart harshly criticized the comments in the report, telling Sky News they were “clearly reprehensible” and “really terrible” and that Mr Hester was “absolutely right to apologize”.

However, when asked whether the Conservatives should return his donation, he said: “We cannot cancel anyone’s participation in public life or their donation to a political party because they have said some outrageous and wrong things in the past.”

Mr Stewart added: “It’s not my decision. But I do welcome those who support the Conservatives to ensure that we have Rishi Sunak, who is, of course, our first Hindu prime minister, [in office]”.

Asked whether he welcomed donations from Mr Hester and others, the minister said: “I mean, I welcome those who donate and I’m not here to judge a statement.”

But he also insisted that he was “not at all interested in trying to defend” the donor’s alleged remarks.

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Electoral Commission records show Mr Hester donated £10m to the Conservative Party last year, including a £5m personal donation to Rishi Sunak and a further £5m from his health software company in November.

Labor chair Anneliese Dodds called on the Tories to return the money “immediately”, adding: “Rishi Sunak claims ‘words matter’ and he must know, keep This money will mean the Tories condoned these disturbing comments. Sunak must pay back every penny.”

The calls were echoed by the Lib Dems, with Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain urging the Prime Minister to rule out Mr Hester “taking on any future peerage”.

Sky News has contacted Ms Abbott for response.