The return of donations to the Conservative Party to a donor accused of racism should be “looked at”, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has said.
Speaking to journalists following First Minister’s Questions, Ross said the alleged comments by Frank Hester about Dianne Abbot were “racist, unacceptable and wrong”.
The businessman is alleged to have said that Abbott, Britain’s first black female MP, made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”, in comments Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described as “racist” after initially refusing to do so.
Ross said the Scottish Conservatives had not received money from Mr Hester but the local party is funded by the UK party.
Ross said: “There can be no dubiety around that.
“I think it was unacceptable and wrong, and the party at a UK level needs to look at that donation.”
Pressed on whether the Conservatives should return the money, he said: “I think this should be looked at.”
He continued: “I think most people would think it’s fair to allow a review to review the situation and look into it.”
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