Tory donor's alleged Diane Abbott remarks were racist, says Kemi Badenoch

[IwantToRetire]

Ms Badenoch becomes the most senior minister to call the alleged comments racist - going further than the official government response.
Downing Street have called Mr Hester's alleged comments "unacceptable" but without specifying why.

Asked repeatedly if Rishi Sunak would describe the words as racist, the prime minister's spokeswoman said she would not get into "further characterisation".

In a social media post, Ms Badenoch, who also serves as the equalities minister, said: "Hester's 2019 comments, as reported, were racist.

"I welcome his apology. Abbott and I disagree on a lot. But the idea of linking criticism of her, to being a black woman is appalling.

"It's never acceptable to conflate someone's views with the colour of their skin."

Earlier, health minister Maria Caulfield told the BBC she considered the comments to be racist and that she would not accept a donation from Mr Hester "if he made those comments".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68548389

Who would turn down ten million let alone return it after your have spent it? Not of course saying that anyone has allowed the amount of money their response to the alleged comments.

Disgusting comments and good on her for saying this. Sunak has failed miserably here.

Good for her.

Racist, misogynist- but even worse is the hate speech and violence. Saying someone should be shot is criminal and should be punished, by the Tories, and the Law. Colour and sex are important in this case, but the incitment to violence is much worse.

I agree and to try and say it wasn't about race or "gender" is absurd when the comment was about a Black Woman.

Saying someone should be shot Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??!!

I didn't know that. And the Tories are trying to tell us what is extremist and what isn't.

What is worse is that this was said some time ago, and I am sure most people must have heard him talk like this, and they took the money.

Mainstream politics at the moment are so depressing.

I feel in despair.

He's now had his 'spokesperson' say the comments were 'racist and wrong ... but ...'

Just in time for the 6pm news cycle.

"I feel in despair".

Reckon that's shared by so many people. Why did it take so long for those dreadful comments to be revealed ?
How have we ended up with so many dangerous and vile people with so much influence? All the lobbying and influence based on wealth, political allegiances and ideologies where the welfare and needs of society are never considered.

It fucks up Gove's pet project though

So why are the police not rushing around to arrest him ffs

Good for her, disgusting remarks. Sunak is hopeless at stuff like this, just say it how it is, like Kemi.

Former Tory leader William Hague said on Times Radio: 'Well, his comments yes do seem to be racist. I don't think I could deny, that, honestly.'

In that comment, the implication is that anyone denying they are racist is dishonest - which is almost every Tory MP and Cabinet Minister who has spoken about them. Kemi Badenoch's condemnation was mealy - mouthed and excused Hester.

The question Sunak and the others need to answer is :
'In what way are these remarks not racist and misogynistic?'

This is what he said
“.......you see Diane Abbott on the TV and you’re just like, I hate, you just want to hate all black women because she’s there, and I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot.
“[xxxxx] and Diane Abbott need to be shot..”

It's racist and misogynistic and Sunak should call it for what it is, condemn it wholly, return the 10 million, chuck him out of the Tory party and make sure he never receives a penny in government-awarded contracts ever again. He's disgusting.

Can you imagine being in a group of people and someone making that comment? I don't know anyone or go anywhere where that kind of racist misogyny - alluding to violence no less - would be tolerated. Fucking depressing that it's ok with powerful people.

Badenoch showing good leadership again.

Have never heard of this person - Albie Amankona, Conservatives against racism co-founder - but this is part of what he said on Tory donor Frank Hester's alleged comments about Diane Abbott on Radio 4 https://twitter.com/BBCWorldatOne/status/1767546633900724265

(Sorry for twitter link not sure if there is a transcribed version.)

I hadn't heard about the "should be shot" comment and that is additionally awful to the racism and sexism.

DA was interviewed and spoke about being someone who doesn't drive so goes by bus or walks which as a single woman can feel dangerous enough. But now that this comment is in the public domain, feels further threatened, not forgetting MPs who have been killed.

And the Tories want to lecture us on extremism?!

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/diane-abbott-frank-hester-met-police-tory-b2511427.html

No she didn't. She went on to say he should be forgiven because he said sorry. She excused him and reduced the seriousness of what he said.

'After the publication of the remarks, a statement from the healthcare technology firm the Phoenix Partnership (TPP), which Hester runs, said he “accepts that he was rude about Diane Abbott in a private meeting several years ago but his criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.'

This is what he actually said about her :
“.......you see Diane Abbott on the TV and you’re just like, I hate, you just want to hate all black women because she’s there, and I don’t hate all black women at all, but I think she should be shot.
“[xxxxx] and Diane Abbott need to be shot..”

Any mention of gender and skin colour there? Is he stupid as well as racist and misogynistic?

Exactly this. Look at part 2 of the tweet. Pure contortion of morality to hold the party line and hold onto the money. They are all awful and only care about power and money. Kemi included.

Lots of reasons not ever to vote tory but this is a biggy. Whatever peeps think of her politics she is a political elder, the first black woman to be elected, her portrait is in number 10, fucking racist, ageist and sexist.

The love Kemi gets on these boards is baffling. Yes she is GC, but that isn’t reason enough to support her for leadership or support the Tories overall. Look at her voting records. Look at the party’s record. I genuinely wonder if someone on her team posts these pro Kemi messages trying to get MN supporters.

@StrawberryEater not so sure about that as am familiar with most of the main leader posters.

GC is a broad political church. As is feminism in general we get together over one issue politics and push forth, with side issue disagreements. Thats why i love this board.

I don't imagine it would be easy to arrest him. People will say someone should be shot in all kinds of contexts where it's clearly hyperbolic, and I am sure this guy would claim that's how he was speaking. And maybe that is what he meant. I think it would be difficult to prove otherwise.

But wow it is hard to see how someone could be more inappropriate in a public comment.

And yes, racist and in a particularly stupid way.

I don't have a problem with them taking his money though. It's kind of satisfying to have a twat give up so much cash.

Yes, I recognise the broad church that is feminism. I am happy that people from across the political spectrum will unite over some issues.

But I have seen SO many pro Kemi posts, including one a couple of weeks ago (I think) specifically asking if people would vote Tory if she were leader. And then a flurry of people saying yes because of her GC views.

Maybe all the Kemi posts weren’t all on this board, but significantly this is the sex and gender discussion board but the post is predominantly about racism (with a good dose of misogyny thrown in). Hence my mild suspicion.

The level of shocking and hateful racism and misogyny in that remark is hugely telling. The barely repressed misogynistic instinct to silence a woman he disagrees with is truly repellant.