The Frank Hester saga continues after the Tory donor’s ‘rude’ remarks about Diane Abbott came to light on Monday. A Guardian investigation revealed that the West Yorkshire businessman had told colleagues in 2019 that looking at Abbott makes ‘you just want to hate all black women because she’s there’ and that ‘she should be shot’.

Now Kemi Badenoch has spoken out on the issue. The business secretary, who is also minister for women and equalities, blasted Hester’s ‘appalling’ and ‘racist’ remarks — but added that there must be ‘space for forgiveness’.

Writing on Twitter this afternoon, she said:

Hester’s 2019 comments, as reported, were racist. I welcome his apology. Abbott and I disagree on a lot. But the idea of linking criticism of her, to being a black woman is appalling. It’s never acceptable to conflate someone’s views with the colour of their skin.

MPs have a difficult job balancing multiple interests — often under threats of intimidation as we saw recently in parliament. Some people make flippant comments without thinking of this context. This is why there needs to be space for forgiveness where there is contrition.

It echoes the sentiment expressed by other Tory MPs quizzed on the matter. Energy minister Graham Stuart refused to call Hester’s language ‘racist’, saying: ‘That was half a decade ago. He has apologised.’ Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride was a little more critical, telling media: ‘It was clearly inappropriate. He has apologised and I think we need to move on.’

Former Conservative leader William Hague, ex-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and Downing Street aide Gavin Barwell have joined Badenoch in calling Hester’s remarks ‘racist’. Hague added: ‘He’s deeply sorry. So I think we should accept the apology.’

Abbott has said the comments are ‘frightening’ and expressed fears for her safety. Labour politicians have called on CCHQ to hand back Hester’s recent donations — which amount to £10 million in the last year — while SNP leader Humza Yousaf has this afternoon said that his ‘honest view’ was that ‘if the Conservative party had any moral principle, then they would return every single penny and tell him where his money should go.’

By the sounds of it, however, the Tories are in a charitable mood…