Diane Abbott, the UK’s first and longest-serving black Member of Parliament, reported Frank Hester, a significant Conservative Party donor, to the police over remarks he allegedly made suggesting she “should be shot.” The comments, said to have been made during a business meeting in 2019, have led to a contentious debate within the Conservative Party, drawing condemnation from figures such as Kemi Badenoch and Kwasi Kwarteng, who labelled the remarks as “racist.” Hester, who donated £10m to the Conservative Party last year, has apologized, stating his comments were not meant to offend.

The Labour Party has called for the Conservative Party to return the donations made by Hester, arguing his comments reflect underlying issues of racism and sexism in political discourse. Labour leader Keir Starmer described Abbott as a “trailblazer” and expressed dismay at the alleged comments, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by people of colour in politics.

The incident has also triggered a response from Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, who demanded the Conservative Party return all donations from Hester, condemning the remarks as racist, sexist, and inciting hatred. Yousaf’s critique extended to the wider behaviour within the Conservative Party, accusing it of institutional Islamophobia.

Despite some Conservative ministers and Downing Street’s initial reluctance to explicitly label the comments as “racist,” figures like Equalities Secretary Kemi Badenoch and former Tory leader William Hague have condemned them as such. The controversy underscores the broader issues of racism, sexism, and accountability within UK political circles, highlighting the challenges minority figures face in navigating public life.