A Labor MP who was suspended from the party for racially abusing a journalist has demanded taxpayers’ money for an anti-racism awareness course. Independent can reveal.
Neil Coyle, who was welcomed back into the party by Sir Keir Starmer in May, put a £295 unconscious bias into spending.
Critics said it was “outrageous” and “unorthodox” for the MP to bill taxpayers for his attempted fix, and he now faces calls for a fresh suspension.
Labor MP Kim Johnson said it was “a disgrace that Neil Coyle is blaming the taxpayer to atone for his racist and abusive behaviour”, adding: “This begs the question – is he determined to learn his lesson?”
The left winger urged Sir Keir to take action against Mr Coyle. “Given that he is clearly unprepared to take responsibility for his actions, Labor should seriously reconsider removing the whip.”
The cost of an anti-racism training course, which took place in January 2023, caused deep discomfort among Mr Coyle’s colleagues. “This is not a good look; he shows no signs of remorse,” a senior Labor MP said Independent.
They added: “He looks like someone who has been through the motions. There needs to be redemption, and you have to pay the bill for redemption.
Liberal Democrat councilor Rachel Bentley, who will challenge Mr Coyle’s Bermondsey and Old Southwark seat at the next general election, said she “couldn’t imagine” why she thought spending on the course was acceptable.
“It shouldn’t be something that taxpayers have to rely on,” he said. “He has certainly shown public remorse and I assume taking this course is part of that. “But there is absolutely no sense in this being shouldered by taxpayers.”
Former attorney general Nazir Afzal added: “The whole point of being held accountable for racism is that you get the punishment, not the taxpayer. “He doesn’t think Mr. Coyle is very nice to him.”
The original drunken incident, in which Mr Coyle made Sinophobic remarks about political correspondent Henry Dyer, occurred in the House of Commons bar on February 1, 2022, Chinese New Year.
The journalist said the pair discussed Labor MP Barry Gardiner receiving money from a suspected Chinese spy, while Mr Coyle said his colleague had been paid by “Fu Manchu”, a cartoon villain who draws on traditional Chinese stereotypes.
The journalist said he told Mr Coyle that it was inappropriate to refer to the “Chinese trope” and noted that he was British-Chinese.
The Labor Party politician later told him his legacy was clear: “you look like you’re giving renminbi [Chinese currency] To Barry Gardiner”.
As he left the bar that night, Mr Dyer said he wanted to ease tensions with Mr Coyle and bid him farewell. He said the deputy responded by pointing two fingers toward him.
Mr Coyle was suspended that month. He attended an anti-racism training course on January 27 this year and a few months later, in May, Sir Keir brought back the whip.
The unconscious bias course, run by Equality and Diversity UK, promises to explain “how we can overcome our unconscious biases to improve decision-making and professional relationships.”
The six-hour course promises to help participants understand how unconscious biases “affect their working lives” and “become more conscious, less prejudiced and more inclusive.” Topics covered include the legal consequences of bias in the workplace, case studies, and examples of unconscious bias.
Mr Coyle told Independent The course was for him and one member of staff but Equality and Diversity UK’s website states the course costs £295 per delegate.
“Anyone who thinks all MPs are perfect and don’t need any education obviously doesn’t live in the real world,” he said. “I encourage my entire team to get trained and I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t do it myself.”
Independent It can also reveal that Mr Coyle charged taxpayers £4,500 (£164,250 per year) for 10 days of communications support from an external consultant.
Most MPs are allowed to pay staff based on expenses, with watchdog Ipsa’s annual wage being £56,312.
Mr. Coyle paid Paul Richards, who wrote a book called. Be Your Own Spin DoctorFor PR support between February and March 2023, weeks before the Labor whip is brought back.
The MP said the rather expensive aid was required due to delays in hiring full-time staff.
A senior Conservative MP said setting a course for spending was “like asking parliament to pay a fine and that is inappropriate”. Another said it was “sticky and tasted bad.”
Another Conservative source added: “No matter how many times they try to tell us they’ve ‘changed’, it’s the same old Labor Party. “Billing taxpayers for fixing racism is unorthodox, but unfortunately not surprising.”
Urging Sir Keir to consider suspending him from a new role, Ms Johnson said Labor should not tolerate “such an arrogant attitude towards racism”.
The backbencher, a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on racism, added: “Without urgent action, how will Black and Asian people in Labor ever feel safe and supported?”
Mr Coyle has stopped drinking since the Commons incident and said the change “probably saved my life” as a result.
“I would particularly like to apologize to the two complainants who were subjected to my drunken and aggressive behavior and attitude,” he said earlier. “I cannot apologize enough for the harm and distress caused and frankly I am ashamed of my behaviour. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
Chief whip Alan Campbell told the MP that “drinking in no way excused his behaviour” but appreciated the party’s efforts to address his problematic behaviour.
An Ipsa spokesman said: “Training courses for MPs or their staff in relation to parliamentary duties may be claimed from Ipsa as an operating cost.”
The worker declined to comment.