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Labour suspends peer over sexual harassment claims

Lord Stone, the former managing director of Marks and Spencer, was reportedly accused of sexist and transphobic comments and unwanted touching

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A member of the House of Lords has been suspended from the Labour Party over claims that he sexually harassed parliamentary staff.

Complaints by four women against Lord Andrew Stone of Blackheath were upheld by the independent commissioner for standards, which published its report on Wednesday.

The former managing director of Marks and Spencer was reportedly accused of sexist and transphobic comments, and unwanted touching.

Labour confirmed that he had been suspended from the Labour Peers Group until further notice – but that further discussions will take place “once he has completed the training and coaching recommended by the Commissioner”.

Among several alleged incidents recorded by the commissioner was that he repeatedly told a colleague that she was beautiful “to boost her self-esteem”, and grabbed her arm when she recoiled.

He allegedly stroked another staff member’s arm and said to her he hoped a document on the bill to outlaw upskirting came with photos.

The commissioner’s report said that Lord Stone also approached a stall where staff could sign up to an anti-transphobia event and shouted that a visitor “wanted the trans operation”.

Responding to the Times, Lord Stone did not deny the alleged incidents, but said he had not intended to cause offence.

Lord Stone holds several positions with non-profit organisations, including the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR), Dipex, the health charity, and the Sindicatum Climate Change Foundation.

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