Controversial businessman, Frank Hester, has fortified his position as the Conservative Party’s largest donor with an additional £5 million donation.
This contribution, made through his company, the Phoenix Partnership (TPP), brings Hester’s total donations to the Tories to a staggering £15 million, as per figures released by the Electoral Commission.
Hester, who has been at the center of a storm over remarks widely condemned as racist and misogynistic, previously stirred political turmoil with comments made about Labour MP Diane Abbott.
In a 2019 incident, Hester was reported to have told colleagues at his IT healthcare firm that looking at Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot.”
These revelations, brought to light in March 2024, triggered widespread outrage and condemnation, including from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who labeled the remarks as “wrong” and “racist.”
Despite the uproar and calls from Labour and other parties for the Conservatives to return Hester’s previous donations, the party accepted an additional £150,000 from TPP just days after the scandal broke. This transaction was completed on March 8 and accepted by the party on March 14.
Hester has since issued a statement apologizing for his remarks, describing them as “rude” and insisting that his criticism of Abbott had nothing to do with her gender or race.
He emphasized his abhorrence of racism, citing his own experiences as the child of Irish immigrants in the 1970s.
Nonetheless, the acceptance of Hester’s latest £5 million donation has reignited calls for the Conservatives to distance themselves from him.
Diane Abbott expressed her dismay on social media, calling the acceptance of further funds from Hester “an insult” to herself and all black women. “Rishi Sunak belatedly admitted Frank Hester’s remarks were racist,” she tweeted.
“Now it turns out Sunak accepted a further £5m from him. An insult to me and all black women.”
Diane Abbott
Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds echoed these sentiments, criticizing Sunak’s integrity and urging the Conservative leader to return Hester’s donations and properly apologize to Abbott.
“Rishi Sunak has proven he is a man with no integrity,” Dodds said.
“If he had a backbone, he’d have cut ties with Frank Hester months ago, returned the money, and apologized properly to Diane Abbott.”
Anneliese Dodds
Davey: Donors Should Rethink Tory Contributions
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey also weighed in, suggesting that lifelong Conservative supporters would be dismayed by the party’s decision to accept further donations from Hester.
He encouraged other donors to reconsider their contributions to the Tory party.
Hester’s substantial donations represent a significant portion of the Conservative Party’s funding, amounting to 44% of the total national spending limit of £34 million for each party in the upcoming general election.
The return of these funds could therefore create a significant financial shortfall for the Tories.
In April 2024, Conservative Party Chair Richard Holden faced scrutiny when asked if the party had accepted the latest £5 million donation from Hester.
Holden, while refusing to confirm the acceptance, emphasized that Hester had apologized for his comments and argued for the acceptance of apologies when they were genuine.
The Conservative Party has significantly outperformed Labour in fundraising over the past year, amassing £44 million compared to Labour’s £24.6 million, excluding public funds.
However, in the first quarter of this year, fundraising efforts have been more balanced, with the Conservatives raising £8.48 million and Labour £7.38 million.
The Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Reform UK also reported their respective fundraising figures.
As such, the controversy surrounding Hester’s donations continues to cast a shadow over the Conservative Party, raising questions about the party’s values and the influence of its financial backers.
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