Ministers’ initial refusal to say Frank Hester’s comments were racist speaks volumes

Tory stance on businessman who gave party £10m undermines narrative that UK is ‘post-racial society’

• Black Britons feel hurt by Hester attack on Diane Abbott, says ex-Tory adviser
• UK politics – latest updates

After Frank Hester’s comments about Diane Abbott were published, the businessman who is the Conservative party’s biggest donor said in a statement that he accepted he was rude about her but “the criticism had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.

Despite direct references to both – he said of Abbott that “you just want to hate all black women because she’s there” – the prime minister and ministers sent out on Tuesday morning’s broadcast rounds in effect backed his stance by refusing to describe his comments as racist. They also rebuffed calls to hand back his £10m of donations.