Tory MP charged with ‘racially aggravated’ public order offence

An MP has been charged with two public order offences for “racially aggravated” behaviour and using threatening or abusive words.

Bob Stewart, 73, the Tory MP for Beckenham, was also charged with using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Both offences are alleged to have taken place on December 14 last year in Belgravia. The alleged offences reportedly took place outside the Foreign Office’s Lancaster House offices, at an event hosted by the embassy of Bahrain.

Police received an online report from a man alleging he had been verbally racially abused.

The Met said the second offence is an “alternative charge” to allow the court discretion on the racial element – it relates to the same incident rather than a separate charge on its own.

The MP will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 5.

Stewart has been contacted for comment.

Pictured top: Bob Stewart (Picture: UK Parliament)