Watch Lee Anderson make grovelling apology for swearing at safety guard
Lee Anderson has made a grovelling apology in the Commons for swearing at a Parlamentary security guard.
The Reform UK MP reacted angrily after being asked to show his pass by the member of staff. An investigation found he had told the guard: “F*** off, everyone opens the door to me, you are the only one.”
When told again he would need to show his pass, Mr Anderson then responded: “F*** you, I have a train to catch.” He was ordered to apologise by the Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which found he had breached Parliament’s bullying and harassment policy.
The MP was found to have sworn twice at a security officer after his pass did not work. It left the victim “upset and intimidated” and contributed to him getting another job within Parliament, an investigation report said.
Speaking in the Commons Mr Anderson admitted his behaviour was “completely unacceptable”. He vowed there would be no repeats.
He told MPs: “I accept the findings of the Independent Expert Panel and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in full, without reservation. On the 23rd of November, 2023 at the Derby Gate entrance (to the Parliamentary estate), 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, which included swearing and language that goes against the House of Commons bullying and harassment policy.
“I would like to apologise to the complainant and to this House for my behaviour. Security staff do an incredible job and should always be treated with the utmost respect. The standards of an MP’s behaviour must always be at the highest standard.
“I give you and this House my firm assurance that I have learned significant lessons through this process, and a firm undertaking that such behaviour on my part will never happen again.”
The MP for Ashfield had appealed the decision by Parliament’s standards commissioner to upheld the complaint. But on Wednesday the IEP said his case was dismissed on the basis that it “failed to raise any substantive grounds”.
They added: “In considering the sanction the sub-panel accepted that the complainant was left upset and intimidated by the incident, and it had contributed to him moving to a different job in Parliament. It also took into account his views on the appropriate sanction.
“The sub-panel noted that following his unsuccessful appeal Mr Anderson now accepted the Commissioner’s finding that he had sworn at the complainant and that his behaviour had been a breach of the bullying and harassment policy.
“He had also expressed a desire to apologise. The sub-panel accepted Mr Anderson’s evidence that he had faced ‘challenging personal circumstances’ on the day in question and his ‘unacceptable behaviour’ was ‘not planned or premeditated’.
