HUMZA Yousaf today claimed the Conservative Party is not “is not just riddled with Islamophobia, but institutionally Islamophobic”.
The First Minister hit out amid fury over comments reportedly made by party donor Frank Hester about Labour MP Diane Abbott.
Mr Hester in 2019 is alleged to have said Ms Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving black MP, made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.
The First Minister was asked about the remarks today following a speech he made on the economy at London School of Economics.
Mr Yousaf said: “Those comments from Hester are not just racist, they are not just sexist, they are inciting hatred which is completely and utterly unacceptable.
“If the Conservative Party had any moral principle then they would return every single penny and tell him where his money should go.”
“There is simply no doubt in my mind that the Conservative Party is not just riddled with Islamophobia but is institutionally Islamophobic.
“How can it not be when you hear the comments from Suella Braverman, when Lee Anderson who was a senior member of the Conservative Party up to a few days ago, was able to make the comments he made about Sadiq Khan and not a single senior Conservative including the Prime Minister was able to call it Islamophobic.
“That is of course the party who also elected a leader that described Muslim women as bank robbers because of the way that they look.
“The Conservative Party in my mind is undoubtedly institutionally Islamophobic.”
Most read in The Scottish Sun
Earlier, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the reported comments were “clearly unacceptable” but refused to say whether they were racist.
Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman, asked about what Mr Hester reportedly said, told reporters: “I wouldn’t usually comment on alleged words, second-hand accounts, etc.
“But, as minister Stuart said this morning, what is alleged and reported to have been said is clearly unacceptable.”
He refused to be drawn on why they were unacceptable, adding: “I don’t have anything to add beyond what minister Stuart said this morning.”
The Conservatives have been asked for comment.