Labour peer to go to behaviour coaching over harassment

A LABOUR peer who joked about a transgender campaign and sexually harassed women has been ordered to undergo “behavioural coaching”.

Lord Stone, 77, has had the Labour whip suspended after he was found by a Lords standards committee to have caused harassment on four occasions in Parliament.

In April, he was accused of stopping a woman and telling her she looked beautiful with her hair worn differently from her usual style.

When the allegation was put to him, Lord Stone said he “considered it to be polite” and added that he thought the woman had “low self-esteem, so liked to give her encouragement”.

On another occasion, Lord Stone was accused of having attended a stall in Parliament that was inviting staff to sign a pledge against homophobic and transphobic behaviour.

He was reported to have pushed his way past others in the queue and said “is this where he signs up for the trans operation, he wants to be trans”.

Lord Stone was also accused of “stroking” a woman’s arm “for five to 10 seconds”. The same woman referenced an occasion where he made a “joke” that he hoped a document about the Upskirting Bill would contain photos.

Following the investigation, it was recommended Lord Stone undergo “bespoke” training and behaviour coaching.

A Labour Lords spokesman said further discussions would be had with Lord Stone “once he has completed the training and coaching recommended by the commissioner”.