Largest ever Tory donor’s appalling remarks.

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.

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 👏

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.

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.

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...

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.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

No problem cossy.

Doodledog

Whether or not you agree with DA’s politics or like her ‘as a person’ (based on the very hostile media representation of her, that is) she really has suffered so much for being a black woman in politics. She is vilified more than anyone else I can think of, and the vast majority of the criticism is not about her politics or policies, but nasty personal jibes which are racist, sexist and abhorrent. Her looks, her relationships, her children - nothing is off limits, and this far from the first time that her colour has been dragged into things. It is sickening, and an indictment on British society and culture that it is allowed to pass almost unnoticed. I would like to see an example made of this, even if only as good PR before an election, but I’ll eat my hat if any money is returned.

Well said and completely agree!

OOOPS please ignore my last post, moved to correct thread! Still sleep! Pills I take make me a bit drowsy in the mornings!

Well, I’ve read the manifesto and it’s reads like a primary school project!

Get rid of “daft EU regulations” (no mention of which “daft ones”)

Their NHS plan is just utter nonsense, slipped in between casually stating more use of the private sector.

Controlled immigration comprises “1 out, 1 in” Bit like a multi storey car park! I would have respected a points system concentrating on those with skills and professions we are so short of.

Their costings/finance are utterly ludicrous, and there’s lots of pictures and block graphs! Yup, put together as a bunch of 9 year olds school project!

Glad to be in agreement Doodle 👋

Cross-post silverlining, not ignoring you . Great minds think alike though!

Whether or not you agree with DA’s politics or like her ‘as a person’ (based on the very hostile media representation of her, that is) she really has suffered so much for being a black woman in politics. She is vilified more than anyone else I can think of, and the vast majority of the criticism is not about her politics or policies, but nasty personal jibes which are racist, sexist and abhorrent. Her looks, her relationships, her children - nothing is off limits, and this far from the first time that her colour has been dragged into things. It is sickening, and an indictment on British society and culture that it is allowed to pass almost unnoticed. I would like to see an example made of this, even if only as good PR before an election, but I’ll eat my hat if any money is returned.

Diane Abbot who I think was the first black MP has been vilified for years. Truly horrible for her.
Of course the conservatives will keep the money, which can be seen as justifying this abuse .
Shame on him, shame on them.