Largest ever Tory donor’s appalling remarks.

Callistemon21

^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.

Iam64

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

Absolutely!

Wafty15

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.

This!

Absolutely agree that a Very Public bit of grovelling seems in order, but I doubt that we will see this. I take particular exception to such talk being understandable because he is a " blunt Yorkshireman"

I take particular exception to such talk being understandable because he is a " blunt Yorkshireman"

Me too Chocolatelovinggran. I’m a Yorkshire woman and my DH is a Yorkshire man but neither of us (nor any of our extensive family) would ever say such disgusting things as this chap said. Being from Yorkshire might make us ‘plain speaking’ but not racist, ignorant and disrespectful.

Cossy

Wafty15

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.

This!

Someone who is so full of himself that he thinks he is always right, above normal behavior and courtesy.
No doubt his family a d staff have been toning down his outbursts, this time it was called out - eventually.

How frightening to be Abbott - I would be so fearful every time I left my house.

yes, she gets such a lot of vile abuse anyway, and she has said it makes her feel even more frightened, esp as she does not drive and uses buses everyday.

Frank Hestor has been reported to Parliamentary police unit.

Oldbat1

Frank Hestor has been reported to Parliamentary police unit.

Good!

Disgusting. Absolutely it is hate speech and inciting violence. Can't abide her politics but Kemi Badenoch has spoken out against it - and that's good too!

Listening to the news on radio four, it is good to hear people speaking out clearly. Hester has admitted that he used the language, his excuse and apology doesn't hold water and he has been shown as the racist that he is. I wait to see what Sunak will do about this, no-one should be insulted by racist comments like this and it is immaterial if someone has themselves, used racist or unwise language. I'm not a fan of DA but the abuse she has had over the years is totally despicable.

I’m not at all surprised the words were said, it is typical of the attitude of Tory party members.

A few years ago I was asked to help out waitressing at a local Conservative Association dinner, their attitude to the staff was appalling we were treated like skivvies. Overhearing some of their conversations racism, sexism was rife, the lower classes were of no consequence, they were of course personal conversations, but easy to overhear.

The caterer could not find staff for the event the following year.

Who was it called them scum? Pretty accurate imo

I note that both Kemi Badenoch and Kwasi Kwarteng have been very critical of the comments. Well done both.

The political editor of the Byline Times has been investigating Hester's company on Glassdoor, a site which provides information on 1,000s of companies, including employee or former employees' 'reviews' of the company.

These are some of the reviews

If you can't read the picture and you are a member of twitter/X you can find it here:

twitter.com/AdamBienkov/status/1767581854742299110

Quite a lot on Reddit about the toxic culture there including this from one former employee who lasted four months:

Disparaging remarks about how thick people (ie NHS organisations) are for buying their software.

It’s an appalling speech. Nothing excuses it and I’m not sure that an apology is sufficient.
It doesn’t excuse his speech, but I remember about the same time last year, we were angry on GN about DA and her remarks.
www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1323470-Diane-Abbott-suspended-from-the-Labour-Party

Yes appalling and as you say nothing excuses it..

Disgusting man. Also how can it be said that his words were not racist! The excuses were beyond pathetic. Let these extremist right wingers clear off and join whatever low life political party they really belong to. Poor Diane Abbot has been subjected to this with no thought that she has apparently suffered some Ill health of late.

Abbot’s health has been bad for a long time, and it has taken its toll.

When she first became an MP she was as bright as a button, intelligent, quick witted and more than a match for most. But she is a shadow of her former self now I think.

If you order repeat prescriptions online or have access to online test results and/or patient records, the chances are that you use System Online, which is how Hester made his money.

I'd love to have an alternative, but there isn't any choice.

British obsession with racism. From both sides. Why can’t people just live with each other in a normal way, why does race even enter into anything these days? Samantha Kerr is being accused of racism against a white policeman. For goodness sake, why do people look for offence? Just get on with life.

People are getting on with life. That includes calling out racism misogyny and suggestions a black female mp should be shot

I just heard on the news that it’s been confirmed by a minister that further donations from this man would be accepted.
news.sky.com/story/tory-donor-not-racist-despite-alleged-diane-abbott-remarks-claims-minister-13093755

I wonder if Sunak approved that statement