Worthing Leader Urges Fellow Councillor Not To Use Funds Donated By 'Racist' Supporter

Labour councillor Beccy Cooper has taken to social media asking Conservative MP for Worthing West Sir Peter Bottomley to refuse donations made by Frank Hester, following a recent scandal.

The Guardian has reported that Mr Hester of The Phoenix Partnership, who donated £10m to the Tories last year, allegedly said in 2019 that Labour MP Diane Abbott made him "want to hate all black women" and that the politician "should be shot". 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is reported to have said this morning (March 13) that comments by the Tory donor allegedly made about Ms Abbott were "racist and wrong" after the police confirmed they were investigating the matter.

Mr Hester has since said he is  "deeply sorry" about the comments concerning the former Labour MP but said they had "nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin".

Following the accusations, Beccy Cooper took to X yesterday (March 12) to urge her fellow councillor not to accept financial donations made by Hester:

I'm outraged & disgusted by comments made by Frank Hestor about @HackneyAbbott

This flies in the face of the PM's recent speech calling for respect for all people

I have written to @PBottomleyMP asking him to refuse financial donations made by Hestorhttps://t.co/Yvjspz3fIu

— Cllr Beccy Cooper #VoteLabour (@BeccyCooper4Lab) March 12, 2024

She also sent More Radio her letter to Sir Bottomley:

Dear Sir Peter, 

As a General Election campaign approaches and political parties begin preparations, I am writing to you seeking assurances that your campaign and local Conservative Association will not use funds given to the Conservative Party which have been donated by Frank Hester.  

As you will know this week, Frank Hester’s abhorrent racist views became clear. Mr Hester is reported to have said that he wanted to shoot an elected Member of Parliament. This falls well below the standard of behaviour the residents of Worthing West expect and it is right that no party of government uses funds donated by this man.

The Guardian reported that Frank Hester said “[The executive] and Diane Abbott need to be shot”, and that “you see Diane Abbott on the TV, and [...] 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.” 

It was also reported that Frank Hester said of a female executive from a separate company that “it would be much better if she died. She’s consuming resource. She’s eating food that other people could eat.”

The Conservative Party has taken £10,000,000 in donations since February 2023 from Frank Hester or The Phoenix Partnership (TPP) where he is founder and sole shareholder.

While - in good faith - we assume that the Conservative Party was not aware of Mr. Hester’s views at the time of receiving these donations, it is only right that you and your party take these new revelations into account seriously. 

Yet, Rishi Sunak has refused to return the money.

This now means it is your responsibility to refuse support from your party if it is funded by Frank Hester’s money.

Accepting and using that money can only be treated as an implicit condoning of his deeply disturbing comments and the way he has run his business.

Will you take responsibility and turn down this support?

I will be publishing this letter in the public interest.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Beccy Cooper

Sir Peter Bottomley has been contacted for a response.