Hague adds to PM's woes as he condemns donor's attack on Abbott as racist

RISHI SUNAK was hit by a growing storm today as William Hague led senior Tories in condemning as “racist” a party donor’s rant against Diane Abbott in which he reportedly said she made him “want to hate all black women” and “should be shot”.

- Nicholas Cecil

The ex-Conservative leader’s intervention piled pressure on the Prime Minister to toughen the party’s stance against Frank Hester.

One former minister joined Labour and the Liberal Democrats in urging the Conservatives to sever ties with Mr Hester and repay the millions he donated.

The row comes just weeks after Lee Anderson’s “Islamists” outburst against London Mayor Sadiq Khan, which the Tories also refused to criticise as racist.

Mr Hester, chief executive of The Phoenix Partnership, admitted making “rude” comments about Ms Abbott, which were first reported by the Guardian, and said he was “deeply sorry”. He insisted, though, that they had “nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.

But Lord Hague told Times Radio: “The comments, connecting dislike of Diane Abbott with racial characteristics, well, that is racist.” He welcomed Mr Hester’s “fulsome” apology and was sceptical about whether the Tories should repay his donations.