Lords Committee statement on the report into the conduct of Lord Lester
20 November 2018
The House of Lords Privileges and Conduct Committee met on Tuesday 20 November to decide how to respond to the vote in the House on Thursday last week to remit the report on the conduct of Lord Lester of Herne Hill back to the Committee.
Commenting following the meeting Lord McFall, Chairman of the Privileges and Conduct Committee and Senior Deputy Speaker, said:
“The Committee has met today and reconfirmed its view that the process undertaken to investigate Lord Lester's behaviour accorded with the principles of natural justice and fairness. The Commissioner conducted a thorough investigation which was carried out entirely in line with the House of Lords Code of Conduct under which the complainant, Jasvinder Sanghera, made her complaint, and which all Members sign-up to at the start of each Parliament.
“However, we will reflect on the amendment passed in the House last Thursday and the points raised in the debate and we will bring a further report to the House that more fully explains our position as soon as possible.
“We also received a letter from staff of the House. We have reflected carefully on what they have said and we will seek to ensure that as we consider a future system for investigating bullying and harassment we take the points made by those working here fully into account.”
Image: House of Lords/Roger Harris