Labour MP Neil Coyle, who was suspended last year for making racist comments towards a journalist, later charged taxpayers £295 for an equality training course, it has emerged. The MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark claimed the expenses in January 2023, months after he was suspended from the party for using 'abusive language with racial overtones' against political journalist Henry Dyer.
The incident occurred in a Commons bar, where Coyle made Sinophobic remarks, including suggesting colleague Barry Gardiner was being paid by 'Fu Manchu', a fictional Chinese supervillain. When Dyer, who is British-Chinese, corrected him, Coyle told the journalist he could tell from his appearance that he had been giving renminbi to Gardiner. Coyle also made a rude gesture towards Dyer as he left.
Coyle was suspended from the Commons for five days earlier this year after the Independent Expert Panel found he had breached Parliament's harassment rules. He also directed 'foul-mouthed and drunken abuse' towards another MP's assistant. The whip was restored in May, with Labour acknowledging his efforts to address his behaviour, including stopping drinking entirely.
Labour MP Kim Johnson called the expenses claim 'an outrage' and urged Sir Keir Starmer to 'seriously reconsider removing the whip again'. The Independent first reported the expenses claim.
