The Conservative Party has reportedly received another £5 million donation from businessman Frank Hester despite his previous involvement in a race row.
The exact timing of the donation remains unclear as it has not yet been declared to the Electoral Commission. The next update is expected in June. If confirmed, this would bring Hester’s total contributions to the party to over £15 million.
Rishi Sunak (Credits: WAVY.com)
Hester’s previous remarks, including derogatory comments about black women, sparked controversy in 2019. Although he later apologized for his remarks, Downing Street initially hesitated to label them as racist.
However, they eventually acknowledged the racist nature of the remarks after pressure from various quarters, including Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch.
The news of the latest donation has prompted calls for clarification from the Conservative Party. Meghan Gallacher, the deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, expressed her intention to seek clarification on the reports.
UK Prime Minister Sunak (Credits: Reuters)
Meanwhile, Moray MP Douglas Ross emphasized that the reported comments were unequivocally racist and unacceptable, stressing the need for the party to address the donation.
Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain condemned Hester’s attitudes and emphasized the importance of separating financial contributions from unacceptable political behavior. She urged Conservative politicians to recognize that receiving donations does not excuse reprehensible conduct.
