Frank Hester donates £5m to Tories days before election call

Frank Hester, a controversial donor to the Conservative Party, made headlines after donating £5 million to the party just days before the general election was called by Rishi Sunak. This donation came amid significant backlash against Hester, who faced calls for the Tories to return funds following his alleged racist remarks about Diane Abbott, the first Black female MP in Britain. Hester reportedly stated that Abbott made him 'want to hate all Black women' and suggested she 'should be shot.' Despite the uproar, the donation on May 17 marked a substantial increase in Hester's contributions, bringing his total donations to over £15 million in the past two years, making him the largest donor to the party. Sunak condemned Hester's comments as racist, which added to the pressure on the Conservative Party to distance itself from the donor. In response to the controversy, Hester issued a statement acknowledging that he was rude about Abbott in a private meeting but insisted that his comments were not related to her race or gender. He expressed regret for the hurt caused and emphasized his opposition to racism, citing his own experiences as a child of Irish immigrants. The situation raises questions about the ethical implications of political donations and the responsibilities of political parties in addressing the conduct of their donors. As the election approaches, the Conservative Party's handling of this issue could significantly impact its public image and voter support.