In a recent incident involving members of the House of Lords, Baroness Catherine Meyer is facing suspension due to a series of comments and actions deemed as harassment. This situation arose after she referred to a peer of Indian heritage, Lord Dholakia, as “Lord Poppadom,” which the Lords’ Conduct Committee identified as racially insensitive and harassing. Following an investigation, it has been recommended that Baroness Meyer, a Conservative member of the House, be suspended for three weeks. Furthermore, she has been criticized for inappropriately touching the hair of a Black MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, without consent.
Initially, Lady Meyer refuted the claims, denying any occurrence of the remarks. However, under scrutiny from two witnesses who corroborated the events, she later retracted her denial and offered apologies for her behavior. The committee’s findings highlighted that her comments during a taxi ride in February, while visiting Rwanda with the Joint Committee on Human Rights, contributed to an atmosphere of racial harassment. Notably, during this ride, Lady Meyer mistook Lord Dholakia for another peer, Lord Popat, also of Southeast Asian descent, resulting in her derogatory reference.
The confrontation over Lady Meyer’s comments was instigated by other members of the committee, notably Ribeiro-Addy, who testified to the discomfort caused by Meyer’s actions. Lady Meyer justified her remarks, attributing them to exhaustion and the consumption of “possibly three glasses of wine” during a very long day. Following the conclusion of the investigation, the committee recommended that Lady Meyer both serve her suspension and undergo bespoke behavior training to amend her conduct.
Baroness Meyer is 71 years old and notable for her co-founding role in the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. She is also known as the widow of Sir Christopher Meyer, a former UK ambassador to the United States, and was appointed to the House of Lords by Boris Johnson in 2018. In response to the committee’s findings, a Conservative Party spokesperson indicated that she has shown regret for the distress she caused, acknowledging the committee’s recommended sanctions as appropriate.
In a related decision, Lord Stone of Blackheath, a former Labour peer, is also facing significant consequences following findings of bullying and inappropriate language towards parliamentary security staff. He has been recommended for a six-month suspension after using derogatory terms such as “thick” and “stupid” in interactions with the staff while exhibiting an aggressive demeanor. Lord Stone, who has previously faced allegations of sexually harassing staff, admitted to using an aggressive tone when he was confronted over leaving his suitcase unattended at the entrance of the parliamentary premises, which violated established protocols.
The investigation into Lord Stone revealed a troubling pattern of behavior, with the committee expressing disappointment in his apparent lack of insight or improvement since their last finding against him in 2020. Lord Stone’s actions included shouting, gesturing wildly, and refusing to comply with the orders given by security personnel. Both he and Baroness Meyer now await confirmation of their suspensions, which will require peer approval, with a voting session anticipated to occur early in 2025.
These events have sparked significant discourse regarding acceptable behavior within the House of Lords, highlighting issues of racism, bullying, and respect in parliamentary proceedings. It raises important questions about the standards expected of those in positions of power and influence, as well as the processes in place to hold such individuals accountable for their actions.
