Unionist lord Ken Maginnis ‘not showing proper contrition’ after refusing ‘behaviour training’ course: SNP MP

Hannah Bardell, representing Livingston in Scotland, made the remarks yesterday after the longstanding unionist politician declared that he will refuse to go on such a course after he was censured for his behaviour towards her.

The whole saga dates back to January, when Lord Maginnis (who describes himself as an Independent Ulster Unionist peer) forgot his Parliamentary pass, and became embroiled in a row with security staff

According to Bardell’s own account the 83-year-old (who has a prosthetic leg, arthritis, and describes himself as “disabled by diabetes”) was “making a scene” and calling the staff “jobsworths” for not letting him in.

She said she “offered my assistance,” suggesting to him that he find himself online so the guards would know who he was.

As she entered the building and he was left behind, Lord Maginnis “was up in my face saying ‘you’re useless as well’”.
She said: “I found the whole incident very intimidating.”

She reported the incident to police, saying she “called out his aggressive and abusive behaviour”.

Lord Maginnis was subsequently quoted in the press, in an interview about the security pass debacle, saying that “queers like Ms Bardell don’t particularly annoy me” (she is gay).

Ms Bardell took exception to this too, reporting it as a “hate crime” and saying: “I do not understand the necessity to refer to another human being and professional colleague in this way...

”I am a lesbian and I identify as being part of a queer community, however that does not give Lord Maginnis the right to use the term as one of offence against me.”

The saga wore on, with Lord Maginnis being accused of more inappropriate language and behaviour and with the peer himself refusing to accept wrongdoing, according to a standards report into the affair.

Ultimately the Lords conduct committee recommended that Lord Maginnis, a former school headmaster, army major, and longstanding UUP MP, “be suspended from the service of the House for a period of at least 18 months and until he has successfully completed a designated course of bespoke behaviour change training and coaching”.

After he refused, Ms Mardell wrote on Facebook yesterday: “Lord Maginnis confirmed he wouldn’t take part in any behaviour training.

“Not the contrition I or others are looking for.

“I will be seeking guidance from the Lords Standard Committee on what this means but his appalling behaviour has no place in our politics.”

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