Labor MP who insulted journalist with 'racial overtones' blames taxpayers for equality training

Neil Coyle says the incident for which he was punished may have 'saved my life'; because it forced him to address his drinking problem. Photo: JONATHAN BRADY/PA WIRE

A Labor MP suspended for using «racially offensive language» towards a journalist has continued to charge taxpayers for equality training.

Neil Coyle, who returned to Sir Keir Starmer's party after reinstating the whip earlier this year, claimed £295 towards course costs.

The Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP has been suspended from the Labor Party in the past year after an incident at the Commons bar, during which he allegedly made Sinophobic comments about Henry Dyer, a British-Chinese political journalist.

Mr Coyle went on record in January this year training course on cost equality, it has now been revealed.

Kim Johnson, Labor MP for Liverpool Riverside, told The Independent it was «outrageous for Neil Coyle to charge the taxpayer with his attempt to atone for his racist and offensive behavior» and called on Sir Keir to «seriously reconsider opting out again whip.» «.

The Labor Party declined to comment.

He swore and was drunk.

Mr Coyle was suspended from serving in the House of Commons for five days after he was found to have breached Parliament's harassment rules over the incident. with Mr Dyer.

According to the Independent Expert Commission, which considers complaints against MPs, “racially suggestive language” against the journalist was added to “foul language and drunken abuse” against another MP’s assistant.

In the incident, Mr Dyer, Mr Coyle and a group that included the reporter were discussing Barry Gardiner, a Labor MP who had received donations from a woman who MI5 later revealed was a Chinese spy.

Mr Coyle suggested that his colleague was paid money. «Fu Manchu», a fictional Chinese «super-villain», before Mr Dyer explained that he was British-Chinese and that there was no need to use such an image.

Mr Coyle then told the journalist that by the way he looked, he could tell that he was giving yuan, the Chinese currency, to Mr. Gardiner.

Later, as Mr Dyer left the bar, he tried to defuse the situation. waving goodbye to Mr. Coyle. It was revealed that the MP responded by showing two fingers to the reporter.

Apology in the House of Commons

Mr Coyle was reinstated as a Labor MP in May when Alan Campbell, the chief whip, told him he had been drinking «in no way condones his behavior» but that the party recognized his efforts to address problematic behavior.

A Labor Party parliamentary committee heard that Mr Coyle had undertaken two programs to control his drinking and had stopped drinking completely.

In an apology in the House of Commons, he said he was «ashamed» of his behavior and said the intervention «quite possibly saved my life» by forcing him to stop drinking.

«I want to particularly apologize to the two complainants who were subjected to my drunken and abusive behavior and attitude,» he said. .

“I cannot apologize enough for the harm and upset I have caused and, frankly, I am ashamed of my behavior. This shouldn't have happened.»

The Labor Party was embroiled in another controversy over racism earlier this year when Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, was forced to apologize after suggesting that former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng was «superficially black».

Ms Hook had the whip briefly removed and received anti-racism and bias training.

Mr Coyle was contacted to obtain comments.