UK peer calls Irish PM ‘ typical Indian’

After backlash for racist comment, says ‘ it is a fact’

Dublin, May 1: A member of British’s House of Lords was accused of racism on Tuesday after he branded Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar a “typical Indian”.

John Taylor, 80, known as Lord Kilclooney, was reacting to a news report about criticism of Mr Varadkar’s visit to Northern Ireland on Monday.

In the BBC article posted on Twitter — headlined ‘ DUP: Varadkar’s visit to Northern Ireland showed disrespect’ — an MP had accused Mr Varadkar of “poor manners” and showing disrespect by not informing a local representative about his trip on Monday.

Mr Kilclooney, a House of Lords peer since 2001, commented that Mr Varadkar, who has an Indian father and an Irish mother, was a “typical

Indian”.

Mr Kilclooney was a member of the European Parliament for 10 years beginning 1979, a British MP for 18 years in House of Commons from 1983 before joining the Lords. He used to represent Northern Ireland’s Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP).

After many took to Twitter to condemn his words, including former UUP leader Mike Nesbitt, who said his remark could only be interpreted as a “racist comment”, Mr Kilclooney tweeted: “I am certainly no racist and in

Lord Kilclooney’s ‘ typical Indian’ comment came after Northern Ireland’s DUP accused Maharashtrianorigin Leo Varadkar ( left) of ‘ poor manners’ and showing disrespect by not informing a local representative about his trip. Later, Lord Kilclooney ( below) defended his comment saying, ‘ You still do not understand the difference between being Irish by nationality as Varadkar is and being half- Indian by race as Varadkar has confirmed he is...”

particular have an admiration for Indians.”

He defended his comment by saying, “Typical Indian was meant to be a comparison with an Irishman.” “You still do not understand the difference between being Irish by nationality as Varadkar is and being half- Indian by race as Varadkar has confirmed he is. Nothing racist about it, simply factual,” he added. Alliance Party Leader Naomi Long said Lord Kilclooney’s latest comment was a “slur on all Indian people with his use of the word “typical” and demanded that the Speaker of House of Lords raise the matter with the peer. Democratic Unionist Party MLA Christopher Stalford tweeted, “I don’t know what John Taylor thinks he's playing at but he doesn't speak for me. Absolutely ridiculous behaviour”.

In November, Lord Kilclooney had referred to Mr Varadkar as “the Indian”, claiming it was “shorthand for an Indian surname which I could not spell”. The comments came after Northern Ireland's DUP accused Maharashtrian- origin Leo Varadkar of breach of protocol saying he visited the region without informing local elected representatives of his visit to counties Armagh and Down.

“I can assure anyone that I'm not an invader. I just want to be a good neighbour and I received a very warm welcome in Northern Ireland,” Mr Varadkar said. Ireland and Northern Ireland have a long history of political troubles, brought to the fore by the ongoing Brexit negotiations.

Notably, the Bexit will leave European Union member- state Ireland bordering a non- EU member state, Northern Ireland.

The border issue is seen as a major stumbling block in Britain and the EU finalising any exit deal.