Lee Anderson: Reform MP told to apologise for 'swearing at security officer' in parliament

Reform MP Lee Anderson has been told to apologise in the House of Commons for "swearing twice at a security officer after his pass did not work" as he tried to enter parliament.

A report by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) now requires Mr Anderson to "make an apology in the House of Commons for a breach of parliament's bullying and harassment policy".

The MP for Ashfield was found to have sworn twice at a security officer after his pass did not work when he was trying to enter the parliamentary estate in November 2023.

According to the report, on 3 November last year Mr Anderson instructed the guard to open a door at the Derby Gate search post, an entrance to parliament.

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When asked to show his pass, Mr Anderson allegedly said: "F*** off, everyone opens the door to me, you are the only one."

Asked again to show his pass, Mr Anderson said 'f*** you, I have a train to catch', before walking out of the search post", according to the complaint.

The report said Mr Anderson "accepted that he was 'upset, impatient and angry' but not 'aggressive', and denied swearing at the complainant.

The finding followed a complaint made to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) and an investigation by an independent investigator appointed by the ICGS who recommended that the complaint should be upheld.

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Mr Anderson appealed the finding to the IEP, but the sub-panel considering the case dismissed it, concluding it failed to raise any substantive grounds.

It concluded Mr Anderson should apologise to the complainant, and to the House by way of a personal statement.

Speaking in the House of Commons later on, Mr Anderson said: "I accept the findings of the Independent Expert Panel and the parliamentary commissioners for standards in full and without reservation.

"On 23 November 2023 at the Derby Gate entrance I was involved in an incident with a security guard.

"During the incident I spoke to the complainant in a manner that was totally unacceptable and which included swearing and other language that goes against the House of Commons bullying and harassment policy.

"I would like to apologies to the complainant and to this House for my behaviour.

"Our security staff do an incredible job and should always be treated with the utmost of respect.

"The standards of an MP's behaviour must always be at a higher standard. I give you and this House my firm assurance that I've learned significant lessons through this process, and a firm undertaking that such behaviour on my part will never happen again."

Mr Anderson was first elected to the seat of Ashfield in 2019 as a Conservative. He defected to Reform in March this year after he was kicked out of the parliamentary Conservative Party for refusing to apologise after alleging that London mayor Sadiq Khan was controlled by "Islamists".

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