MP Will Report Peer To Police For Homophobia And Abuse Of Parliament Staff

An MP who was called “queer” by a peer after she raised his “abusive” behaviour towards parliamentary staff is set to report him to the police for an alleged hate crime.

Lord Ken Maginnis was accused of “one of the worst cases of abuse of security staff I have seen” by SNP MP Hannah Bardell.

The Northern Irish Ulster Unionist peer launched a tirade at staff, calling them “crooked” after he forgot his pass to enter parliament and they would not allow him in, Bardell told the Commons on Wednesday.

Responding to HuffPost UK, Maginnis did not deny the allegations, instead choosing to attack Bardell by accusing her of attempting to to “settle a score” because she is “queer” and he is opposed to gay marriage.

Bardell will now ask the police to look into both the incident at the Palace of Westminster’s underground entrance, and his subsequent comments attacking her.

She told the Commons on Thursday morning she considered his comments about her to “be a hate crime”. 

“We must set the best possible standards for this place for other LGBT people and indeed our staff,” she added.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, said Maginnis’ “attack” on Bardell was “unutterably disgraceful”. He told MPs Bardell was “clearly owed an apology” from the peer.

He added: “I think everybody who heard about that was shocked by the comments he is reported to have made and not denied. I think they are really appalling.”