Bedford Borough’s Conservative MP and the police and crime commissioner have joined former North East Bedfordshire MP, Alistair Burt in condemning the comments of Tory party donor, Frank Hester.
Former North East Bedfordshire Conservative MP, Alistair Burt, has called on the Tory party to cut ties with Frank Hester and return his £10m donation.
It comes after Mr Hester was reported to have made sexist, violent and misogynistic comments about the MP for Hackney, Dianne Abbott.
In a report in the Guardian, it’s claimed that Mr Hester, who donated £10m to the Conservative party, told colleagues that looking at Diane Abbott made you ‘want to hate all black women’ and she ‘should be shot’.
Following Mr Burt’s comments, Bedford’s Conservative MP, elected mayor and police and crime commissioner were approached for their reaction to the report.
“Disappointed and angry”
Festus Akinbusoye, Bedfordshire’s police and crime commissioner and the first Black Briton to be elected to the role told the Bedford Independent: “I am extremely disappointed and angry at the reported racist abuse aimed at Diane Abbott and others by a supporter of the Conservative Party.”
He said it was not representative of the party that he, “recognises, supports, and engages with on a day-to-day basis” and there can be “absolutely no room for racism” in our society.
“As someone who has been on the receiving end of hate-inspired threats, I know first-hand the impact these have on the mental health of victims and their ability to go about their normal lives.
“For my part, I will keep doing everything within my power to build a society that shuns any form of behaviour that negatively targets people because of their race, religion, gender, sexuality or other characteristics.
“Differences are perfectly acceptable in a free and democratic society; prejudice and inciting violence are not.”
If true, and it appears to be, it is open and shut for the Conservative Party. Return the donations, end the relationship and ask decent donors to make up the difference. With MPs under threat, and past murders, this is unacceptable. Many Conservative members will be watching. https://t.co/ns9AbVI8cV
— Rt Hon Alistair Burt (@AlistairBurtUK) March 11, 2024
Mr Burt’s successor to the North East Bedfordshire seat, Richard Fuller MP (Conservative) told the Bedford Independent: “The comments made by Frank Hester as reported by the media were clearly racist and hurtful.
“Hurtful not only to Diane Abbott but to all people who have had to endure both casual and aggravated racist comments in their day-to-day lives.
“I appreciate that Mr Heater has apologised but he must be aware that he has more to do. In addition, there are also questions about his comments regarding staff at his companies which he needs to address.”
At the time of our deadline, Tom Wotton, mayor of Bedford, had failed to respond to our request.
“Latest in a string of offensive comments”
Bedford and Kempston MP, Mohammad Yasin (Labour) told the Bedford Independent he shared Mr Burt’s opinion that the multi-million-pound donation should be returned.
“Sadly, I am not shocked at the racist, violent and sexist comments reported to have been spoken by the top Tory doner Frank Hester.
“It’s the latest in a string of offensive comments coming from Tory MPs,” he said.
“However, I am shocked by the lack of condemnation from Tory MPs, not least the Prime Minister. I know many of my constituents are sick of not only having to hear or read such divisive and hateful comments but are tired of then being taken for fools by other MPs and Tory supporters dancing around the head of a pin trying to defend the indefensible.
“If a member of the public made such clearly racist and dangerous comments, then claimed they’re not racist, they would rightly face condemnation and even possible legal action.
“It should be no different for a Tory donor. The Conservative Party should immediately return the £10 million donations and call an investigation into Mr Hester and his business practices which include Government contracts and holding our medical records.”
