Largest ever Tory donor’s appalling remarks.

No problem cossy.

Iam64

I’m with flappergirl, sounds like hate speech. Maybe he should join Reform, he’d fit right in

Casting aspersions, have you ever heard them say anything like that.
What was said re Abbott was wrong, totally. Would like to point out, have you ever heard Abbott say anything racist about, white people, Jewish people. Well perhaps listen to or read old press reports, why do you think she has had the Labour whip withdrawn.

Two wrongs don’t cancel each other out. Abbott doesn’t belong in the Labour Party but under no circumstances should this man’s racist, misogynistic comments be justified

Freya5

Iam64

I’m with flappergirl, sounds like hate speech. Maybe he should join Reform, he’d fit right in

Casting aspersions, have you ever heard them say anything like that.
What was said re Abbott was wrong, totally. Would like to point out, have you ever heard Abbott say anything racist about, white people, Jewish people. Well perhaps listen to or read old press reports, why do you think she has had the Labour whip withdrawn.

So that justifies incitement to murder?

We aren’t discussing Abbott.

We are discussing the most appalling racist and misogynistic remark I think that a person in the public sphere has ever said.

In just over 3 months time it will 8 years since Joe Cox was shot.

In the USA it is recognised that their president incited violence and insurrection.

Hester is inciting violence.

This extremist hate speech has to STOP.

She is vilified more than anyone else I can think of

Yes, this is correct, and I think much of it is on Twitter/X. I don’t do Twitter and I never have and this is one of the reasons why I don’t. Vilification of other people because of their race, sex, or politics is unacceptable in my view.
Im not surprised that DA is reported as now feeling unsafe since these comments. At this sensitive time of MPs feeling very unsafe, this only adds fuel to the fire. It’s unacceptable in my opinion. Racist, misogynistic, and grossly unpleasant.

Whataboutery does not allow anyone to avoid facing the truth - to do so imo means that you are complicit in Hester’s comment.

I’m sorry Whitewave, I don’t understand.

flappergirl

Oreo

Depends where he said it and who to.
Don’t be too fast off the mark to involve police in anything said.
It was an ugly remark by an ugly man but not everything needs to be policed.We’re already going a bit to much in that direction for my liking.

Sorry Oreo but I really don't agree. He basically said that Diane Abbot should be shot and it would be better if she was dead. That is completely unacceptable and dangerous, especially in this day and age when several MP's have been murdered and others attacked.

To say nothing of the out and out racist comments.

Well, that is inciting violence.

I've never heard of him but how did such a terminally stupid man become so rich?

maddyone

I’m sorry Whitewave, I don’t understand.

I have been listening to and reading Tory comments and a couple of them have tried to ignore the question asked about Hester and instead pointed to Abbots comments that got her booted out of the Labour Party. Imo to fail to condemn Hester is being complicit in the incitement to violence, now that it is out in the public arena.

I agree Whitewave, nothing justifies what this vile man has said.

Police should arrest him and the Tory Party should give his donation to a worthwhile charity.

Yes Whitewave. The usual Tories have been trawled out to do the media rounds this morning. Their stance appears to be … nothing to see here; let’s move on! Apparently it’s ok to make comments that appear to be racist and call for someone ‘to be shot’ … if the commentator is a £10million Tory doner!

Ahhh, now I understand Whitewave, thanks for the explanation.
No, nothing justifies the remarks this man has made. I’m concerned about the safety aspect for DA because this could inspire some nutcase to make an attack on her. I hope that doesn’t happen.

I've never heard of him but how did such a terminally stupid man become so rich?

I don't think he is terminally stupid, if he were he wouldn't be running a highly profitable company.

But he is a bit weird and authoritarian. OTOH, he appears to pay good salaries and be very generous with staff perks. An odd mixture.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/mar/11/strict-rules-at-tory-donor-frank-hester-firm-tpp

Of course, people and businesses become rich by charging extremely large markups on their services which bear no relation to covering costs and making a reasonable profit.

According to the Guardian article he has paid himself (as sole owner of the company) some £33million in dividends in the past 5 years. Something tells me that the public are not getting value for money from the government contracts with his company...

Tory party are doing nicely out of him, though. Public money being redirected to them in the form of £10 million in donations from him this year...

I don't think he is terminally stupid, if he were he wouldn't be running a highly profitable company
It seemed to describe him, whoever he is.
Someone who is terminally stupid is being dumb in a way that threatens their safety or someone else's.

Just looked at the link:

Lilly Marchesi, whose two-year stint working at TPP ended in 2014, said the rules were designed to streamline the way the company worked, but added: “If you made a mistake, you had to get everyone’s attention in a room and shout your mistake to the whole room. If you didn’t explain it directly and concisely enough, that was a punishable mistake in itself, this also had to be followed up by an email to all entitled ‘mistakes made’. It was very humiliating and degrading.”

Now, he needs to admit he made a mistake with this and shout it to the country on television directly and concisely and take his punishment.

Now, he needs to admit he made a mistake with this and shout it to the country on television directly and concisely and take his punishment.

Agreed, Callistemon 👏

A Conservative spokesperson said: “Mr Hester has made clear that while he was rude, his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor the colour of her skin. He has since apologised.”

But it was absolutely about the colour of her skin and the fact that she is a woman.

I didn't hear your apology, Mr Hester, YOU NEED TO SHOUT MORE LOUDLY.

This remark was made in 2019, why is it front page news now and not five years ago?

I am not condoning his language in anyway, but I am curious as to why The Guardian has chosen now to publish.

A Conservative spokesperson said: “Mr Hester has made clear that while he was rude, his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor the colour of her skin. He has since apologised

Biggest Tory donor said looking at Diane Abbott makes you ‘want to hate all black women’

Compare and contrast these two statements.

GrannyGravy13

This remark was made in 2019, why is it front page news now and not five years ago?

I am not condoning his language in anyway, but I am curious as to why The Guardian has chosen now to publish.

Perhaps it's only just come to light, GG13

If you read the article he appears to be what people might describe as a 'blunt Yorkshireman'. Not a terribly pleasant character.

Very misogynistic and racists, it is so bad on many levels. His "excuses" are even worse. 😡

It is absolutely disgusting that a person like that to say such foul things. He should be stripped of his OBE and have his money returned. The Tories should condemn him publicly. I feel that NO political party should accept donations from any wealthy business owner who does it for their benefit. The whole political scene I believe is corrupt.

He’s a fool, he made a personal attack naming Abbot using racist and sexist terms completely out or order and deserves everything he gets.
His opinion could have been given without getting into personal insults.

He’s a fool with a fast track to the Prime Minister.

He’s a fool whose company TTP profited from £135m of contracts with the Department of Health and Social Care in under four years from 2019 to 2022 and paid himself 23.5 million in dividends.

He’s a fool whose company is responsible for digital medical records in around GP 2700 surgeries.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/20/one-of-tories-biggest-ever-donors-frank-hester-profited-from-135m-of-nhs-contracts

He’s a fool whose company “mistakenly” shared patient data.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44682369

He’ll be the fool vying for a share of the 3.4 billion earmarked in the Budget to improve NHS IT systems.

Hoepfully this fool will now be shown the door by this government - but I am not holding my breath seeing at he has given the party £10 million in donations in the past year.