A minister has refused to say if the Conservatives should return money to one of its biggest donors, after reports Frank Hester said former Labour MP Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women”.
The allegations about the chief executive of The Phoenix Partnership – who donated £10m to the Tories last year – emerged in the Guardian on Monday, 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 Abbott, for which he was “deeply sorry”, but said they had “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.
Politics live: UK risks ‘blackouts’ without gas
Energy minister Graham Stuart heavily criticised the reported remarks, telling Sky News they were “clearly reprehensible”, “truly awful”, and Mr Hester was “absolutely right to apologise”.
However, asked whether the Conservatives should return his donation, he said: “We can’t cancel anybody from participation in public life or indeed donating to parties because they said something intemperate and wrong in their past.”
Energy minister Graham Stuart made the remarks to Sky News. Pic: PA
Mr Stuart added: “It’s not my decision. But I do welcome those who support the Conservative Party to ensure that we have Rishi Sunak, of course, our first Hindu Prime Minister, [in office].”
Pushed over whether he welcomed donations from the likes of Mr Hester, the minister said: “I’m saying that I welcome those who contribute and I’m not here to sit in judgement on one remark.”
But he also insisted he was “not remotely tempted to try and defend” the alleged comments from the donor.
Sky News Monday to Thursday at 7pm.
Watch live on Sky channel 501, Freeview 233, Virgin 602, the Sky News website and app or YouTube.
Electoral Commission records show Mr Hester donated £10m to the Tories last year, including a £5m donation to Rishi Sunak that came from him personally and another £5m that came from his healthcare software firm in November.
Chair of the Labour Party, Anneliese Dodds, called on the Conservatives to return the money “without delay”, adding: “Rishi Sunak has claimed that ‘words matter’, and he must know that holding on to that money would suggest the Conservatives condone these disturbing comments. Sunak must return every penny.”
The calls were echoed by the Liberal Democrats, with chief whip Wendy Chamberlain urging the prime minister to rule out “any future peerage” for Mr Hester.
Sky News has contacted Ms Abbott for a response.