Tories won't return £10 million donation from Frank Hester amid racism row, minister says

The Conservatives are not planning on returning a £10 million donation from major Tory backer Frank Hester, who has been accused of making racist remarks, according to a minister.

Businessman Mr Hester reportedly said that Labour's Diane Abbott, Britain's longest-serving black MP, made him "want to hate all black women" and that she "should be shot".

Ms Abbott said the reported comments were "frightening" and "alarming" given that two MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess have been murdered in recent years. Police are understood to have been contacted about the remarks, with Scotland Yard saying officers from its Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team are in touch with an MP about a report in the Guardian, which broke the story.

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No 10 condemned the remarks as "racist and wrong" in a statement after 6pm on Tuesday. The prime minister's spokesperson said: "The comments allegedly made by Frank Hester were racist and wrong. He has now rightly apologised for the offence caused and, where remorse is shown, it should be accepted."

The spokesperson added: "The Prime Minister is clear there is no place for racism in public life and, as the first British-Asian Prime Minister leading one of the most ethnically diverse Cabinets in our history, the UK is living proof of that fact."

Rishi Sunak is now facing calls to hand back the money Mr Hester donated to the party. However on Wednesday morning, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake suggested that the party would not be returning the cash and that they may even accept more from him.

Mr