An ex-Labour MP has warned the Tory MP for Wycombe Steve Baker about the safety of politicians after Conservative Party donor Frank Hester was accused of racism.

Emma Reynolds, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Wycombe, called on Mr Baker to refuse support from Mr Hester, who has donated more than £10m to the Tories.

The Tory donor reportedly said during a 2019 meeting that the MP Diane Abbott, who is black, ‘should be shot’ and that she made you ‘want to hate all black women’.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the comments by Mr Hester – who has apologised – were racist but has ignored calls to return the donations.

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In a letter to Mr Baker, Ms Reynolds wrote: “Accepting and using that money can only be treated as condoning his deeply disturbing comments.”

Mr Baker said Mr Hester’s comments ‘were racist’ and ‘welcomed’ his apology, adding that the Tory donor, ‘is a stranger to me’.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Abbott and I disagree on a lot. But the idea of linking criticism of her, to being a black woman is appalling.”

Mr Baker said that some people ‘make flippant comments’, adding: “This is why there needs to be space for forgiveness where there is contrition.”