Disgraced peer in sex case ought to lose title, MP urges

MPS SHOULD debate stripping a disgraced peer of his title to show zero-tolerance for “vile monsters”, the Commons has heard.

Alexander Stafford, Conservative MP for Rother Valley, made a fresh call for action against former politician Lord Nazir Ahmed, who was this month convicted of twice trying to rape a girl and sexually assaulting a boy under 11 in the early 1970s.

Commons Leader Jacob ReesMogg said legislation was required to remove a peerage, adding the “disgrace” felt by Ahmed meant his title had hopefully become “wormwood”. He will be sentenced on February 4.

He resigned from the House of Lords in November 2020 after reading the contents of a conduct committee report, which found he sexually assaulted a vulnerable woman who sought his help.

Many were surprised to discover his title – Lord Ahmed of Rotherham – is separate from his membership of the House.

The House of Lords confirmed that, as the title is created by letters patent from the Queen, it has no power to remove it and legislation would be needed to strip Ahmed, 64, of it.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Stafford said: “Although he is no longer a member of the (Lords), he still maintains and uses his title of peer of the realm and only an active Parliament can strip him of his letters patent.

“Does (Mr Rees-Mogg) agree with me and the 2,000 people from Rother Valley who have signed my petition that we should have a debate in Government time on the act of stripping him of his title and send a clear message that we will never tolerate any vile monsters... and they should never have such prestigious titles?”

Mr Rees-Mogg said: “I do wonder what satisfaction it will give to the person he refers to being called ‘my Lord’ while he is serving time.”