Baroness Catherine Meyer to serve three-week suspension and undergo behavior training following harassment findings
In a significant disciplinary action, Baroness Catherine Meyer, a Conservative peer in the UK House of Lords, has been recommended for a three-week suspension and mandatory behavior training after the Conduct Committee concluded that her remarks were both offensive and racially insensitive.
The controversy arose earlier this year during a parliamentary committee visit to Rwanda, where Baroness Meyer was part of the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR). During the trip, Meyer addressed Lord Navnit Dholakia, a Tanzania-born Liberal Democrat peer of Indian heritage and the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, using the derogatory nickname “Lord Poppadom.”
The Conduct Committee’s report, released on Thursday, upheld a formal complaint of harassment lodged by Lord Dholakia. The committee highlighted that Baroness Meyer’s repeated use of “Lord Poppadom” carried a racial connotation, exacerbating the severity of the misconduct. “Due to the significance of Baroness Meyer’s breach of the code of conduct and the impact of her behaviour on the complainants, I consider a short suspension to be justified in the circumstances,” the report stated.
The misconduct comprised two separate incidents. The first occurred when Meyer mistakenly referred to Lord Dholakia as “Lord Popat,” another Indian-origin member of the House of Lords. Although she promptly apologized, it was later revealed that she had twice called him “Lord Poppadom” during a taxi ride—remarks that Lord Dholakia did not hear directly but were overheard by other passengers.
Feeling “shocked” and “very uncomfortable” by the incidents, Lord Dholakia reported that he could no longer continue his role on the JCHR alongside Meyer, leading him to file a formal complaint with the Commissioners for Standards in April.
Additionally, the report addressed a second incident from the same Rwanda visit involving Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who is of Ghanaian descent. Meyer was accused of touching Ribeiro-Addy’s braided hair without consent after asking if she could do so, an action deemed as harassment under the House of Lords code of conduct.
Despite demonstrating remorse and issuing a written apology stating she “never intended to be disrespectful, unkind, or insensitive,” the committee found the racial implications of Meyer’s language to be an aggravating factor warranting her suspension. Furthermore, the report recommended that Baroness Meyer participate in bespoke behavior training provided by an approved external provider to address her conduct.
The House of Lords’ decision underscores the institution’s commitment to maintaining respectful and inclusive interactions among its members, emphasizing that discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated.
