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Ken Maginnis: MP to report peer to police over 'queer' comments Ken Maginnis: Peer was recorded calling MP 'queer'
(about 2 hours later)
An SNP MP has told the House of Commons she will report Lord Maginnis to police for alleged homophobic comments. A recording of Lord Maginnis using the term "queer" to describe Scottish Nationalist MP Hannah Bardell has been released by the Huffington Post.
Hannah Bardell said she will make a police report after the peer was quoted as calling her "queer". Lord Maginnis had earlier denied that he had used the term.
She claimed he had accused her of attempting to "settle a score" after she raised claims of abusive behaviour towards parliamentary staff. But the Huffington Post journalist who spoke to the peer on Wednesday has now tweeted an audio recording of his interview with Lord Maginnis.
On Wednesday, Lord Maginnis defended his actions towards security staff, saying he was in pain due to arthritis. Earlier Ms Bardell called the remarks a "homophobic attack" and said she would report the peer to police.
'Offensive language' The SNP MP told the House of Commons on Thursday that she considered his remarks to be "a hate crime".
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg urged the peer to apologise, calling the comments "disgraceful". The Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg urged Lord Maginnis to apologise, calling the comments "disgraceful".
Security incident
The Lord Speaker of the House of Lords issued a statement saying he was "deeply concerned" by reports that a peer had directed "offensive language" towards parliamentary security staff and an MP.The Lord Speaker of the House of Lords issued a statement saying he was "deeply concerned" by reports that a peer had directed "offensive language" towards parliamentary security staff and an MP.
Addressing the Commons on Thursday afternoon, Ms Bardell said: "I'm sorry to say the member from the other place who I have complained about has now launched a homophobic attack on me in the press. Speaking to the BBC on Thursday afternoon, Lord Maginnis said: "I certainly didn't call her a 'queer'.
"Whether I was asked a question which used that particular term I'm not sure. It's not something I remember."
Lord Maginnis had spoken to the Huffington Post after Ms Bardell made allegations against him that he verbally abused security staff as he entered Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.
Ms Bardell witnessed the incident on and raised it in the House of Commons the following day, saying it was "one of the worst cases of abuse of security staff" she had witnessed as an MP.
Lord Maginnis later told BBC News NI that he was not displaying his security pass at the time and admitted that he got "cross" when staff insisted that he take it out of his bag and show it to them.
He explained he was in pain due to arthritis and had difficulty with balance due to nerve damage in his legs and feet.
But Lord Maginnis went on to accuse Ms Bardell of having an "ulterior motive" in making her allegations.
He said he believed she had complained against him because of his well-known opposition to same-sex marriage.
Lord Maginnis made similar claims to the Huffington Post, but then was heard to say: "Queers like Ms Bardell don't particularly annoy me."
"Okay, she's got her cheap publicity out of it."
Returning to the Commons on Thursday afternoon, Ms Bardell said: "I'm sorry to say the member from the other place who I have complained about has now launched a homophobic attack on me in the press.
"This will be reported to the police and I know I, and others, consider this to be a hate crime.""This will be reported to the police and I know I, and others, consider this to be a hate crime."
Speaking about the original incident at Parliament security on Tuesday, Lord Maginnis told BBC News NI he had been stopped at the security desk because he was not displaying his pass which was in his bag.
He said he was "slightly touchy" because there was no chair at security and cited the fact he suffers from arthritis and has nerve damage in his feet.
On Thursday, Lord Maginnis accused Ms Bardell of having an "ulterior motive".
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme, he said: "The next thing this Scottish lassie, I forget her name, I've never seen her before, she was there and she stood up in the House of Commons and made a scene about my being bad tempered, which was quite true.
"It's very strange, she must have an ulterior motive. I haven't discovered what that is yet".
'Totally unacceptable'
In a statement, the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Fowler, said: "I am deeply concerned by recent reports of a Member of the House of Lords directing offensive language towards parliamentary security staff and a Member of Parliament".
"The reported behaviour and use of such language is totally unacceptable and has no place in Parliament.
"We are working hard to build an inclusive and respectful environment, and behaviour such as this totally undermines our collective efforts."
Lord Fowler added: "Security on the parliamentary estate is everyone's responsibility. Any disregard for security rules is against the interests of us all.
"Our security staff do a difficult job with the utmost professionalism and deserve support from all members."