Labour restores whip to MP Neil Coyle after ‘drunken abuse’

Labour has restored the party whip to Neil Coyle after he was suspended from his position as MP for a drunken rant and making racist comments.

The MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark has been an independent for more than a year after he was suspended following the rant in Parliament’s Stranger’s Bar in February 2022.

The MP’s readmission to the Labour Party was confirmed on Wednesday by the party’s chief whip, Alan Campbell.

In March, an independent expert panel found that Mr Coyle had breached harassment policy in two separate incidents. He was suspended from the House of Commons for five days.

The suspension revolved around incidents that saw Mr Coyle tell a junior parliamentary assistant, employed by another MP, they were a “c*nt”.

In the second case, Coyle was found to have directed abusive language with “racial overtones” at a British-Chinese parliamentary journalist.

Mr Coyle has now apologised for his outbursts last year and has since explained that the incidents were driven by alcohol abuse, in a period which he said he was drinking 12 pints of beer a day.

Mr Campbell is said to have been reassured by Mr Coyle, who has since undertaken two programmes regarding managing alcohol.

In an apology in the Commons when news of his suspension was announced, Mr Coyle said he was “ashamed” of his behaviour.

“I wish to specifically apologise to the two complainants who were subject to my drunk and offensive behaviour and attitude,” he said.

“I cannot apologise enough for the harm and upset caused, and I’m ashamed of my conduct, frankly. It should not have happened.”

Mr Coyle has been approached for further comment.

Pictured top: Neil Coyle MP (Picture: UK Parliament)