Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Torcuil Crichton

Labour MP suspended over alleged racist comments to journalist

A Labour MP has been suspended after allegations that he made racist comments to a journalist at Westminster.

Neil Coyle, the MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, has been accused of using offensive language against a reporter in the Strangers’ Bar in the House of Commons.

Journalist Henry Dyer said he reported the alleged comments to the Commons Speaker, who he said took “immediate action” with his staff and suspended Coyle from the bars on the estate pending an investigation.

Dyer, who is British-Chinese, said he came into contact with Coyle in Strangers’ Bar on the evening of Tuesday February 1, after going for Chinese New Year dinner with his family.

He accused the MP of making Sinophobic remarks, which he said made him feel uncomfortable.

Dyer claimed he had also witnessed Mr Coyle “angrily shouting at a Labour staffer” in the bar the previous evening.

A Labour official said: “The Labour Party expects the highest standards of behaviour from all our MPs and we take allegations of this sort very seriously.

“Accordingly, the chief whip has now suspended the Labour whip from Neil Coyle pending an investigation.”

Coyle has apologised his “insensitive” actions, adding that he has “apologised to everyone involved”.

In a statement following the withdrawal of the Labour whip, Coyle promised to co-operate “fully” with an investigation into his conduct.

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.