A peer who was found to have groped a woman and promised her a seat in the House of Lords in return for sex has escaped a ban from the chamber. An inquiry recommended that Lord Lester, a distinguished barrister and human rights campaigner, be suspended until 2022 – the longest exclusion in modern parliamentary history. But the Lords has voted by 101 to 78 to block the suspension, after his supporters claimed the inquiry had denied him justice. Lord Lester, a Liberal Democrat, allegedly told Jasvinder Sanghera, a women's rights campaigner: “Sleep with me and I will make you a baroness.” But Lord Pannick, a QC and long-time friend, had led protests that Lord Lester had been given no opportunity to challenge Ms Sanghera about her claims. “The basic element of fairness is that you have the opportunity to test the evidence put against you. You can ask questions to establish if it's a misrecollection, malign motive,” he told the BBC earlier this week. And … [Read more...] about Peer who ‘groped woman and promised her a seat in House of Lords in return for sex’ escapes ban
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Parliament worker ‘attacked lawyer during fight outside House of Lords bar’
A PARLIAMENT lawyer was left badly injured by another worker who attacked him at a House of Lords bar, a court heard today. Ronald Freeman is accused of attacking Peter Brooksbank outside the notorious Sports and Social Bar. He allegedly shoved the lawyer to the ground after a disagreement, leaving his head black and swollen. The pair clashed in December last year outside the bar where they'd both been drinking, Southwark Crown Court heard. Freeman, 57, an engineering contractor in Parliament, denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Mr Brooksbank told the court Freeman ran at him at high speed, adding: "I tried to reach the door and next thing I know I was shoved from behind and I just went forwards. "I have a vague recollection of hitting the ground, my head hit the ground, it was just paving stones so was not the most comfortable thing to hit. "Next thing I know is I was being lifted to my feet by one or two police officers, I do not know how much time had passed." Mr … [Read more...] about Parliament worker ‘attacked lawyer during fight outside House of Lords bar’
Lord Lester of Herne Hill set for House of Lords suspension over harassment claims
A parliamentary watchdog has recommended a peer be suspended from the House of Lords over allegations of sexual harassment. Lord Lester of Herne Hill should be barred from parliament's upper chamber until 3 June 2022, according to the House of Lords' committee for privileges and conduct.If the suspension is agreed to by peers it will be the longest parliamentary suspension since at least the end of the Second World War.Following the committee's recommendation, the 82-year-old has now also been suspended from the Liberal Democrats.A party spokesperson said: "Anthony Lester has been suspended from the Liberal Democrats and is no longer a member of the Liberal Democrat group in the House of Lords."More follows... … [Read more...] about Lord Lester of Herne Hill set for House of Lords suspension over harassment claims
Call for annual House of Lords debate in memory of Norwich’s Baroness Hollis
PUBLISHED: 12:06 02 November 2018 | UPDATED: 12:18 02 November 2018 Baroness Hollis meeting pensioners in Norwich in 2000. Pic: Simon Finlay. A call has been made for Parliament to hold an annual debate in honour of Labour peer and former leader of Norwich City Council Patricia Hollis. Baroness Hollis of Heigham died last month aged 77, after a long illness.And fellow Labour peer Lord Bassam of Brighton, speaking in the House of Lords, said her lifelong work to lift people out of poverty should be honoured with an annual ‘Hollis Debate’.Lord Bassam, who made the comments during a debate about the impact on family life of benefit changes, including universal credit, said: “Patricia was a big figure nationally and locally in her home town of Norwich.“She was greatly respected for her work, championing measures that attacked poverty and promoting the interests of women in the social security and pension system.“Today I intend to invite the government to … [Read more...] about Call for annual House of Lords debate in memory of Norwich’s Baroness Hollis
Labour leadership candidate Eluned Morgan will quit House of Lords if she’s First Minister
One of the three candidates to become the next Welsh Labour Leader and succeed Carwyn Jones as First Minister has said she'll give up her title and place in the House of Lords if she wins. Life-long learning minister Eluned Morgan has been Baroness Morgan of Ely since 2011, following fifteen years as a member of the European Parliament. It's been proposed that AMs who are peers should be required to take formal leave of absence from the House of Lords. She says she'll comply with that rule "when the new law is brought in", though she still hopes to take part in Lords' votes on Brexit before the UK leaves the EU at the end of March. Eluned Morgan added that she had only attended the Lords on a few occasions since becoming an AM for Mid & West Wales and that she'd not claimed any allowances apart from to meet travel and hotel costs. … [Read more...] about Labour leadership candidate Eluned Morgan will quit House of Lords if she’s First Minister