Suspended Labour peer’s 4-letter shame
The Labour Party suspended Lord Lea of Crondall last week after the house of Lords’ standards watchdog found he sexually harassed two women working in Parliament.
But I can reveal this isn’t the only time Lord Lea, 82, has acted in a manner unbecoming of his position. Indeed, the former Trades Union Congress official disgraced himself just last month on a visit to Benin, in Africa, with the all-party Parliamentary group on population, development and reproductive health.
In a report on his conduct, which I have seen, Baroness Tonge — who chairs the group — said Lord Lea disrupted the first session by refusing to wait until the designated time to ask questions. When he was called up on his behaviour, Tonge wrote: ‘he replied: “F*** off.” ’
The peer was then given a copy of the delegation code of conduct and advised to reflect on his attitude. his response? ‘he pounded on the chest of a delegation staff member and replied: “You are not in a position to tell me what to do. It is me to tell you what to do, not the other way around.” ’
And during a dinner, which featured a traditional Benin dance display, Lord Lea approached the barefoot performers with a glass of wine in his hand — and then fell over and smashed his glass.
The next day Lea, who has not responded to the Mail’s requests for a comment on his actions, was expelled from the delegation and put on a flight back to Britain.
he has since been ordered to undergo ‘behaviour change coaching’ over the harassment. I wish his instructor the best of luck!