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House of Lords Faces Controversy Over Conduct of Baroness Meyer and Lord Stone
A significant development within the UK House of Lords has arisen as Conservative Baroness Meyer faces a recommended three-week suspension for her racially charged comments towards a fellow peer of Indian descent. The Lords’ Conduct Committee’s investigation concluded that her remarks, which included calling Lord Dholakia “Lord Poppadom,” constituted harassment linked to race.
During the same proceedings, former Labour peer Lord Stone of Blackheath was recommended for a six-month suspension due to reported bullying of parliamentary security staff, where he disparaged them as “thick” and “stupid.” These incidents have sparked discussions about conduct standards within the House of Lords and the accountability of its members.
The committee’s findings indicated that Lady Meyer had twice used the derogatory term during a taxi ride while in Rwanda with the Joint Committee on Human Rights in February. Initial reports suggested she mistakenly referred to Lord Dholakia as another peer, Lord Popat, before employing the slur. Witnesses, including Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, confronted Lady Meyer about her language, prompting her denial until presented with conflicting evidence. She later acknowledged the remarks, attributing them to fatigue and the influence of alcohol during the evening.
In addition to the racial slur incident, the Baroness was scrutinized for inappropriately touching Ribeiro-Addy’s hair without consent, which added another layer to the allegations against her. Ribeiro-Addy recounted feeling “extremely uncomfortable” during that encounter. Although Lady Meyer expressed regret after realizing the impact of her actions, the committee deemed her behavior violated established harassment rules.
As part of the disciplinary action, the committee not only advised her suspension but also mandated attendance in tailored behavioral training. Lady Meyer, who co-founded the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children and is the widow of former UK ambassador to the US Sir Christopher Meyer, was appointed to the House of Lords in 2018 by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Conservative Party has publicly acknowledged Lady Meyer’s apology to those affected, while Conservative peer Lord Greenhalgh expressed disappointment and surprise at her comments, indicating they did not align with the values expected from party members.
In a separate case, Lord Stone’s recent conduct raises further concerns about his behavior. After receiving a complaint regarding his treatment of security staff, he was found to have exhibited aggressive behavior, which included raising his voice and using offensive language. This behavior follows previous findings in 2019 when he was determined to have sexually harassed staff, resulting in his loss of the Labour whip.
Upon reviewing Lord Stone’s latest misconduct, the committee emphasized a troubling pattern of his behavior. They noted that despite previous interventions aimed at improving his conduct, he appears to lack insight and continues to show a disregard for proper treatment of staff. As outlined in their report, this consistent failure to uphold standards of respect and courtesy is unacceptable.
The proposed sanctions for both Baroness Meyer and Lord Stone will require approval from their peers within the House of Lords, with a vote anticipated early in 2025. This incident serves as a pivotal reminder of the ongoing scrutiny regarding the conduct of parliamentarians and the pressing need for an environment of respect and dignity within legislative bodies.
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