MPs approve five-day Parliament suspension for Neil Coyle
A report found he broke the rules with ‘foul-mouthed and drunken abuse’ of another MP’s assistant.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MP Neil Coyle has been suspended for five days after an investigation found he breached Parliament’s bullying and harassment policy during two encounters after “excessive” drinking.
Mr Coyle will be barred from the parliamentary estate and unable to take part in debates for the duration of his punishment from March 13 to 17.
MPs approved the motion approving an Independent Expert Panel report, which included the recommended suspension, on Tuesday evening.
Their report into Mr Coyle’s conduct found he broke the rules with “foul-mouthed and drunken abuse” of another MP’s assistant and language targeted at political journalist Henry Dyer.
Both incidents investigated under Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) occurred in Parliament’s Strangers’ Bar.
Mr Coyle, who has spoken about quitting alcohol for a year and has pleaded with Sir Keir Starmer to readmit him to the Labour parliamentary party, accepted he was drunk on both occasions.
In an apology in the Commons on Friday, the independent MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark said he was “ashamed” of his behaviour and the intervention had “quite possibly saved my life” by compelling him to stop drinking.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.