Tory donor's alleged comments about Diane Abbott were racist, says Downing Street

Downing Street has condemned comments attributed to Tory donor Frank Hester regarding Diane Abbott as racist.

The Prime Minister's spokesperson stated that such remarks have no place in society and that apologies should be accepted where remorse is genuine.

Hester, who has donated £10m to the Conservative Party, suggested Abbott's presence on TV incited a dislike for all black women but later apologized, insisting the comments were not racially or gender-motivated.

The government was initially reluctant to label the comments as racist until pressure, including from ministers, led to a reversal. Calls are now growing for the Conservative Party to return Hester's donations, with those like Harriet Harman of Labour calling the funds "tainted."

Deliberations over Hester's remarks coincide with former Labour MP Diane Abbott, who was suspended from the parliamentary party in 2023 but later apologized for her own contentious comments regarding racism experienced by various ethnic groups.

There is a push from several voices, including Liberals, for the Conservative Party to address the situation and demonstrate a strong stance against racism.