Labour MP Neil Coyle has apologised to a reporter for allegedly making racist comments.
Political journalist Henry Dyer, who is of British-Chinese heritage, tweeted that Coyle, who has been suspended by the Labour Party, has apologised to him for his “inappropriate actions”.
Dyer also stated he was grateful for the support he has received from the public.
This afternoon, Neil Coyle contacted me, and he offered his apologies for his inappropriate actions of last week.
He reiterated that he will be complying with the Labour Party’s investigation.
I am grateful for the overwhelmingly kind messages of support and solidarity. https://t.co/f3iFSxgyw9
— Henry Dyer (@Direthoughts) February 11, 2022
According to Dyer, Coyle “reiterated that he will be complying” with a Labour Party investigation into his alleged racist remarks.
Coyle, the MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, is accused of making racist comments to Dyer at the Stranger’s Bar on the Parliamentary Estate.
Dyer, a political reporter for Insider, said he reported the incident to the Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Hoyle then took “immediate action” with his staff and suspended Coyle from bars at the estate for 6 months pending an investigation. Authorities in the House of Lords’ took a similar action.
“The Speaker and his staff took immediate action, in conjunction with the Serjeant at Arms and the House of Lords’ authorities, to suspend Coyle from the bars on the parliamentary estate pending an investigation by the Labour whips office into the incidents on Monday and Tuesday evening,” Dyer told PA media.
Dyer came into contact with Coyle on 1 February, after attending a Chinese New Year dinner with his family. There are allegations of Coyle making Sinophobic remarks.
Coyle has been serving as MP since 2015. He previously served as a member of Southwark London Borough Council from 2010 to 2016.
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