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Labour MP Neil Coyle suspended over racist comment claim Labour MP Neil Coyle suspended over racist comment claim
(32 minutes later)
Neil Coyle is the Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, in LondonNeil Coyle is the Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, in London
MP Neil Coyle has been suspended by the Labour Party after allegations he made racist comments.MP Neil Coyle has been suspended by the Labour Party after allegations he made racist comments.
Political journalist Henry Dyer has made a formal complaint to the parliamentary authorities about the MP.Political journalist Henry Dyer has made a formal complaint to the parliamentary authorities about the MP.
Mr Dyer, who is of British-Chinese heritage, says Mr Coyle used racial slurs and made him feel uncomfortable at an incident in a Commons bar.Mr Dyer, who is of British-Chinese heritage, says Mr Coyle used racial slurs and made him feel uncomfortable at an incident in a Commons bar.
Following his suspension, Mr Coyle said he was "very sorry for my insensitive comments".Following his suspension, Mr Coyle said he was "very sorry for my insensitive comments".
He said he had "apologised to everyone involved" and would be cooperating with the investigation.He said he had "apologised to everyone involved" and would be cooperating with the investigation.
However, Mr Dyer's colleague at the Business Insider website Cat Neilan said the apology had not been sent to Mr Dyer, or anyone in their team.
A Labour spokesman said: "The Labour Party expects the highest standards of behaviour from all our MPs and we take allegations of this sort very seriously.A Labour spokesman said: "The Labour Party expects the highest standards of behaviour from all our MPs and we take allegations of this sort very seriously.
"Accordingly the chief whip has now suspended the Labour whip from Neil Coyle pending an investigation.""Accordingly the chief whip has now suspended the Labour whip from Neil Coyle pending an investigation."
Writing on the Business Insider website, Mr Dyer said the MP made a racially insensitive remark during a conversation in the Strangers' Bar about Barry Gardiner, the Labour MP who received funding from a suspected Chinese spy. Writing on Business Insider, Mr Dyer said the MP made a racially insensitive remark during a conversation in the Strangers' Bar about Barry Gardiner, the Labour MP who received funding from a suspected Chinese spy.
China denies 'agent' infiltrated UK parliamentChina denies 'agent' infiltrated UK parliament
'Tension''Tension'
Mr Dyer claims Mr Coyle used a racial stereotype, a comment the journalist says "struck me at the time as not right".Mr Dyer claims Mr Coyle used a racial stereotype, a comment the journalist says "struck me at the time as not right".
He says he "gently pushed back at Coyle about this" but the MP suggested he was being "over-sensitive".He says he "gently pushed back at Coyle about this" but the MP suggested he was being "over-sensitive".
"I responded by saying that I am British-Chinese, to which Coyle responded that he could tell, "from how you look like you've been giving renminbi [the Chinese currency] to Barry Gardiner.""I responded by saying that I am British-Chinese, to which Coyle responded that he could tell, "from how you look like you've been giving renminbi [the Chinese currency] to Barry Gardiner."
Mr Dyer says as he left the bar later that evening he waved at Mr Coyle to "defuse the tension" but the MP responded by "putting two fingers up at me".Mr Dyer says as he left the bar later that evening he waved at Mr Coyle to "defuse the tension" but the MP responded by "putting two fingers up at me".
'Immediate action''Immediate action'
Later that week, Mr Dyer reported the exchange to Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who he said "took immediate action".Later that week, Mr Dyer reported the exchange to Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who he said "took immediate action".
The Speaker is understood to be "very concerned" about the incident.The Speaker is understood to be "very concerned" about the incident.
In a statement, the East and South East Asians for Labour group praised Mr Dyer for "speaking out".In a statement, the East and South East Asians for Labour group praised Mr Dyer for "speaking out".
"No one should face racism in the workplace especially in Parliament which should be setting the highest example for the rest of the country"."No one should face racism in the workplace especially in Parliament which should be setting the highest example for the rest of the country".
Last week, the Daily Mail reported Mr Coyle had launched an angry expletive-laden anti-Brexit rant in the Strangers' Bar.Last week, the Daily Mail reported Mr Coyle had launched an angry expletive-laden anti-Brexit rant in the Strangers' Bar.
Mr Coyle has since been banned from the bars on the parliamentary estate for six months.Mr Coyle has since been banned from the bars on the parliamentary estate for six months.