Frank Hester's Racist Comments About Diane Abbott

[despritdan]

Frank Hester's comments are Manna from Heaven for people on the left, who are now indulging in an orgy of sanctimonious, self-righteous virtue signalling as they fall over themselves to express their disgust at his racist remarks, whilst being very relaxed about Diane Abbott's long history of hypocrisy and racist remarks about white people, some of which are listed in Wikipedia.

 

In 1996, Abbott was criticised after she said that "blonde, blue-eyed Finnish girls" were unsuitable as nurses at her local hospital because they had "never met a black person before".^[129] In response, Marc Wadsworth, founder of the Anti-Racist Alliance, whose mother is Finnish, pointed out that the then-current Miss Finland, Lola Odusoga, was black, of Nigerian and Finnish descent. 

 

On 4 January 2012, Abbott tweeted: "White people love playing 'divide and rule'. We should not play their game

 

 

Racist cabbies

In 2012 Ms Abbott sparked outrage among taxi drivers after suggesting they were racists.

In a message on Twitter, Ms Abbott wrote: “Dubious of black people claiming they’ve never experienced racism. Ever tried hailing a taxi I always wonder?”

She also once claimed that the British invented racism.

 

Following the shooting of Sasha Johnson on 23 May 2021, Abbott tweeted:

Black activist #SashaJohnson in hospital in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. Nobody should have to potentially pay with their life because they stood up for racial justice. It turned out that Johnson had been shot when a gang of 4 black men went into a party, looking for members of a rival gang and one of them shot her by mistake.

 

The issue over her son attending private school is: Abbott's decision in 2003 to send her son to the private City of London School after criticising colleagues for sending their children to selective schools, which she herself described as "indefensible" and "intellectually incoherent." When challenged about her hypocrisy, she replied,  “West Indian mums will go to the wall for their children,”  implying that white parents wouldn't.

 

This is on top of her other gaffes which include her LBC interview; In 2017 Ms Abbott stumbled through an explanation of her party’s plan for an additional 10,000 police officers. During an interview with LBC, the Shadow Home Secretary gave several estimates for how much the new officers would cost, ranging from £300,000 to £80m.

 

Hester's remarks were an attack on her for the way she conducts herself and although they had undertones of racism, he wasn't actually attacking any particular races. It's not surprising that she's so hated and brings all the opprobrium down on herself by the way she behaves and her obvious hatred of the native white population. The fact that she's an MP just illustrates how far this country's sunk. She's now milking it by claiming that she's afraid to go out in case she gets shot, which may well happen as she lives in Hackney, but when you see which demographic group is responsible for the shootings and stabbings in London, it's clear that it isn't rich white men that she needs to be afraid of but men of her own ethnicity.

 

[cressida]

Thanks for taking the time to give a detailed post - I think perhaps Diane and other prominent people should spend more time giving racism more thought before making accusations.

[Axe]

49 minutes ago, despritdan said:

Frank Hester's comments are Manna from Heaven for people on the left, who are now indulging in an orgy of sanctimonious, self-righteous virtue signalling as they fall over themselves to express their disgust at his racist remarks, whilst being very relaxed about Diane Abbott's long history of hypocrisy and racist remarks about white people, some of which are listed in Wikipedia.

 

In 1996, Abbott was criticised after she said that "blonde, blue-eyed Finnish girls" were unsuitable as nurses at her local hospital because they had "never met a black person before".^[129] In response, Marc Wadsworth, founder of the Anti-Racist Alliance, whose mother is Finnish, pointed out that the then-current Miss Finland, Lola Odusoga, was black, of Nigerian and Finnish descent. 

 

On 4 January 2012, Abbott tweeted: "White people love playing 'divide and rule'. We should not play their game

 

 

Racist cabbies

In 2012 Ms Abbott sparked outrage among taxi drivers after suggesting they were racists.

In a message on Twitter, Ms Abbott wrote: “Dubious of black people claiming they’ve never experienced racism. Ever tried hailing a taxi I always wonder?”

She also once claimed that the British invented racism.

 

Following the shooting of Sasha Johnson on 23 May 2021, Abbott tweeted:

Black activist #SashaJohnson in hospital in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. Nobody should have to potentially pay with their life because they stood up for racial justice. It turned out that Johnson had been shot when a gang of 4 black men went into a party, looking for members of a rival gang and one of them shot her by mistake.

 

The issue over her son attending private school is: Abbott's decision in 2003 to send her son to the private City of London School after criticising colleagues for sending their children to selective schools, which she herself described as "indefensible" and "intellectually incoherent." When challenged about her hypocrisy, she replied,  “West Indian mums will go to the wall for their children,”  implying that white parents wouldn't.

 

This is on top of her other gaffes which include her LBC interview; In 2017 Ms Abbott stumbled through an explanation of her party’s plan for an additional 10,000 police officers. During an interview with LBC, the Shadow Home Secretary gave several estimates for how much the new officers would cost, ranging from £300,000 to £80m.

 

Hester's remarks were an attack on her for the way she conducts herself and although they had undertones of racism, he wasn't actually attacking any particular races. It's not surprising that she's so hated and brings all the opprobrium down on herself by the way she behaves and her obvious hatred of the native white population. The fact that she's an MP just illustrates how far this country's sunk. She's now milking it by claiming that she's afraid to go out in case she gets shot, which may well happen as she lives in Hackney, but when you see which demographic group is responsible for the shootings and stabbings in London, it's clear that it isn't rich white men that she needs to be afraid of but men of her own ethnicity.

 

Diane Abbott missed an opportunity to do something good and make amends for her own divisive past behaviour.  Diane Abbott would have been applauded and been called a peacemaker if she had accepted the apology from Frank Heston and urged everyone to move on. 

[SheffieldForum]

58 minutes ago, despritdan said:

Frank Hester's comments are Manna from Heaven for people on the left, who are now indulging in an orgy of sanctimonious, self-righteous virtue signalling as they fall over themselves to express their disgust at his racist remarks, whilst being very relaxed about Diane Abbott's long history of hypocrisy and racist remarks about white people, some of which are listed in Wikipedia.

 

In 1996, Abbott was criticised after she said that "blonde, blue-eyed Finnish girls" were unsuitable as nurses at her local hospital because they had "never met a black person before".^[129] In response, Marc Wadsworth, founder of the Anti-Racist Alliance, whose mother is Finnish, pointed out that the then-current Miss Finland, Lola Odusoga, was black, of Nigerian and Finnish descent. 

 

On 4 January 2012, Abbott tweeted: "White people love playing 'divide and rule'. We should not play their game

 

 

Racist cabbies

In 2012 Ms Abbott sparked outrage among taxi drivers after suggesting they were racists.

In a message on Twitter, Ms Abbott wrote: “Dubious of black people claiming they’ve never experienced racism. Ever tried hailing a taxi I always wonder?”

She also once claimed that the British invented racism.

 

Following the shooting of Sasha Johnson on 23 May 2021, Abbott tweeted:

Black activist #SashaJohnson in hospital in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. Nobody should have to potentially pay with their life because they stood up for racial justice. It turned out that Johnson had been shot when a gang of 4 black men went into a party, looking for members of a rival gang and one of them shot her by mistake.

 

The issue over her son attending private school is: Abbott's decision in 2003 to send her son to the private City of London School after criticising colleagues for sending their children to selective schools, which she herself described as "indefensible" and "intellectually incoherent." When challenged about her hypocrisy, she replied,  “West Indian mums will go to the wall for their children,”  implying that white parents wouldn't.

 

This is on top of her other gaffes which include her LBC interview; In 2017 Ms Abbott stumbled through an explanation of her party’s plan for an additional 10,000 police officers. During an interview with LBC, the Shadow Home Secretary gave several estimates for how much the new officers would cost, ranging from £300,000 to £80m.

 

Hester's remarks were an attack on her for the way she conducts herself and although they had undertones of racism, he wasn't actually attacking any particular races. It's not surprising that she's so hated and brings all the opprobrium down on herself by the way she behaves and her obvious hatred of the native white population. The fact that she's an MP just illustrates how far this country's sunk. She's now milking it by claiming that she's afraid to go out in case she gets shot, which may well happen as she lives in Hackney, but when you see which demographic group is responsible for the shootings and stabbings in London, it's clear that it isn't rich white men that she needs to be afraid of but men of her own ethnicity.

 

None of that excuses Hester’s blatant racism and misogyny.

 

Its all ‘Whataboutery’, and frankly borderline offensive in itself at the end.

 

The root cause of this issue is Hester’s comments and Hester’s comments alone. What he said was wrong and unacceptable. No matter what Abbott has done or said in the past.

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, Axe said:

Diane Abbott missed an opportunity to do something good and make amends for her own divisive past behaviour.  Diane Abbott would have been applauded and been called a peacemaker if she had accepted the apology from Frank Heston and urged everyone to move on. 

Ha hasn't apologised for being racist and misogynist or for saying she should be shot.     He only apologised for being   "RUDE"

Heater was the one in the wrong  -  even his mate Sunak said it was racist and wrong so all Ms Abbot has to do is wait for a proper apology.

Turn it back onto the victim.           That's an old Tory trick.               

[Axe]

4 minutes ago, SheffieldForum said:

None of that excuses Hester’s blatant racism and misogyny.

 

Its all ‘Whataboutery’, and frankly borderline offensive in itself at the end.

 

The root cause of this issue is Hester’s comments and Hester’s comments alone. What he said was wrong and unacceptable. No matter what Abbott has done or said in the past.

The alleged comments were made five years ago.  Maybe Frank Heston has a new hairstyle now and his views have changed now.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Axe said:

The alleged comments were made five years ago.  Maybe Frank Heston has a new hairstyle now and his views have changed now.

Maybe,  and if he has that's fine  -  all he has to do is say so   or   apologise properly.

[Mkapaka]

Day 4 of some people trying to find any angle they possibly can to defend the indefensible statements of a multi millionaire Tory donor, whilst also trying to denounce the person he said made him hate all black women and who also should be shot.

 

What a time to be alive.

 

 

[Axe]

2 hours ago, Mkapaka said:

Day 4 of some people trying to find any angle they possibly can to defend the indefensible statements of a multi millionaire Tory donor, whilst also trying to denounce the person he said made him hate all black women and who also should be shot.

 

What a time to be alive.

 

 

Some people are behaving more rational than others. 

[peak4]

2 hours ago, SheffieldForum said:

None of that excuses Hester’s blatant racism and misogyny.

Its all ‘Whataboutery’, and frankly borderline offensive in itself at the end.

The root cause of this issue is Hester’s comments and Hester’s comments alone. What he said was wrong and unacceptable. No matter what Abbott has done or said in the past.

 

2 hours ago, Axe said:

The alleged comments were made five years ago.  Maybe Frank Heston has a new hairstyle now and his views have changed now.

Or maybe he hasn't
‘No room for the Indians?’: Tory donor Frank Hester suggested staff climb on train roof Guardian (and elsewhere)

The Conservative party’s biggest donor asked if there was “no room for the Indians” and suggested staff climb on a train roof during a crowded meeting, before saying he made “a lot of jokes about racism”.

 As revealed by the Guardian on Monday, he called a meeting of his “foreign” workers to address allegations of racism made by former employees in 2019.

Addressing a number of staff members on a crowded balcony for the meeting at the TPP headquarters, overlooking the railway line in Horsforth, Leeds, Hester asked if there was “no room for the Indians, then?”

He then said: “Climb on the roof, like on the roof of the train there maybe?”

Hester also spoke of a forthcoming work trip, saying: “I’m looking forward to going to Malaysia, so that I can make new jokes – I don’t know any jokes about Malaysian people but I’m sure we’ll find them.

I’m sure we’ll find them. There have got to be some, haven’t there?”

However, he also said “we take the **** out of the fact that all our Chinese girls sit together in Asian corner”.

 

Clearly it wasn't just about Abbott was it? 

Is it acceptable to try and get an executive from a different company dismissed, and discussing her in this manner in a professional meeting? 

Read TPP company reviews on GlassDoor; I can't quote them now, as I'm struggling with my access at the moment

 

“It’s like trying not to be racist but you see Diane Abbott on the TV and you’re just like, I hate, 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.

“[The executive] and Diane Abbott need to be shot. She’s stupid …

If we can get [the executive] being unprofessional we can get her sacked. It’s not as good as her dying.

It would be much better if she died.

She’s consuming resource.

She’s eating food that other people could eat. You know?”

 

Now I'd agree that Labour, amongst others, have have cynically used Abbott as a pawn in their justified complaints against Hester, but there's more to it than just her, as illustrated above.
Labour's treatment of Abbott is far from acceptable as well, particularly when you look back a while and consider the content of the Forde report, which seems to be getting little coverage.
Lots of folk saying Hester (and Marshall) have apologised, so that should be the end of it;

Abbott also apologised for the letter which got her suspended, but those same folk are not suggesting she should be reinstated to the parliamentary party.

 

 Gary Younge wrote a decent article on the broader subject a couple of days ago

In Britain’s degraded politics, fighting racism has become a cynical game The Guardian & well worth reading, regardless of your political affiliations.

This goes far beyond a Tory donor’s racist comments about Diane Abbott, and Labour’s opportunistic response