The Conservative party “absolutely does not” have a problem with race, Transport Secretary Mark Harper has told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

Mr Harper was speaking after a week in which the party has come under pressure due to a £10m donation it received from businessman Frank Hester.

Mr Hester allegedly said veteran MP Diane Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and should “be shot”, sparking days of fierce backlash.

The tech boss apologised for making “rude” comments about the former-Labour MP but said his remarks “had nothing to do with her gender nor colour of skin”.