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Lord Lester of Herne Hill facing suspension: Peer ‘who tried to bully woman into sex’

Investigated: Lord Lester of Herne Hill quit the Lib Dems in February: Reuters
Investigated: Lord Lester of Herne Hill quit the Lib Dems in February: Reuters

A peer faces suspension from the House of Lords until 2022 for sexually harassing a woman and “offering her corrupt inducements to sleep with him”.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill, 82, was found to have breached the Lords code of conduct over a historical allegation of sexual harassment.

Peers will vote on the recommendation, made by the Lords Privileges and Conduct Committee, on Thursday.

If passed it will be the longest suspension from Parliament since the Second World War.

Lord Lester was the Liberal Democrats’ spokesperson on human rights but quit the party after an inquiry was launched in February. The recommended suspension comes after a finding from the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards.

He was investigated by the Commissioner for sexually harassing the complainant, offering her “a corrupt inducement to become his mistress”.

The peer is also said to have warned her of unspecified consequences if she did not accept his offer.