Tories shamed by Hester cash
■ PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak said any form of racism is wrong and tells the police they must clamp down on extremists. Yet when millionaire Tory donor Frank Hester makes an alleged racist remark, Mr Sunak says we should move on because he’s said sorry for being rude and shown remorse.
Now we hear there is the prospect of the Tories using Boris Johnson to campaign in the run-up to the election, someone they kicked out for lying over Partygate. This just proves how two-faced this Tory government is.
All that matters to them is their own party and they will say and do just about anything to get votes.
An election is needed now before they destroy the country’s reputation any further.
Anthony Probert, Ross-on-Wye Herefordshire
■ How on earth can Tory donor Frank Hester claim his despicable remarks about former Labour MP Diane Abbott were not racist?
The Tories – who have the most racially diverse government in history – should roundly condemn him and MPs across the House should support Ms Abbott with a statement in Parliament.
Diane Silva, Bournemouth
■ I’ve always regarded Lindsay Hoyle as a fair Commons Speaker, so I was very surprised and disappointed that he refused Diane Abbott’s several requests to ask a question in the light of the appalling racial slurs made against her recently. And for Lindsay’s spokesman to suggest this refusal was due to there being “not enough time” was surely adding insult to injury to Diane.
Paul Methven, Winscombe North Somerset
■ So, businessman and Tory donor Frank Hester allegedly made racist remarks about Diane Abbott. Hester has donated £10million to the Conservatives in the past 12 months and since 2016 he has been awarded government contracts, including for the NHS, worth £400million.
Surely, this needs looking into? We should also look at how all parties are funded and the process of how government contracts are awarded and if it’s really fair.
Tommy Hazlehurst, Goole East Yorks
■ This millionaire Tory donor thinks he can say what he likes with impunity but he has crossed the line targeting Diane Abbott with his vile comments.
This is a man in the private health sector who has donated more than £10million to the Tories, who have granted his company £400million in contracts. The Tories need to put their house in order. Tony Howard, Salford
■ Why am I not surprised that the Tory Party is not returning £10million to Frank Hester after his comments about Diane Abbott?
As long as they get money to fund their campaigns, the Tories don’t really care about the donors’ morals or values.
What a way to attract donations!
Geoff Willmetts, Bridgwater Somerset
■ Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake says the Tories would accept another £10million from Frank Hester because his apology demonstrated he is not racist.
If apparently saying Diane Abbott made him want to “hate all Black women” isn’t sufficient evidence of racism, what would he have to say or do to convince Mr Hollinrake?
Stuart Magrath, Wigan