A FORMER Ulster University lecturer who lodged an official complaint about Lord Kilclooney's infamous 'Indian' tweet has called for the House of Lords' code of conduct to be reformed.
Barrister Dermot Feenan, who is originally from Downpatrick, Co Down, said it was "disappointing but not surprising" that Commissioner for Standards Lucy Scott-Moncrieff did not investigate the peer after he referred to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as a "typical Indian".
The one-time Ulster Unionist Stormont minister tweeted the remark in May in response to claims by the DUP that Mr Varadkar's visit to the north demonstrated "poor manners".
Lord Kilclooney (80) previously defended the tweet, saying it was "not racist as he himself has confirmed that he is half Indian".
Mr Feenan, who works as an associate research fellow in the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London, said the failure to act against the peer showed there were no sanctions for racist statements.
He said this "impunity" highlighted the Lords' weak system of accountability.
"The Lords' code does not cover a member’s views and opinions, yet the code of conduct of the House of Commons covers views and opinions where they would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the commons as a whole or its members generally," he said.
"Equally unjustifiable is the exclusion of duties unrelated to parliamentary proceedings from the scope of the Lords’ code."
Mr Feenan said the equivalent rules in Canada cover all conduct of a senator, whether related to parliamentary duties and functions or not.”
"The House of Lords is a constituent part of parliament – it makes laws, holds government to account, and debates issues of public interest," he said.
"Racially offensive and racist views by members, wherever expressed, are incompatible with the second chamber’s parliamentary function. There should also be a consistent standard for conduct in both legislative chambers."
He said a change to the code of conduct was "just one of the many ways this unelected chamber must change".
East Derry MLA John Dallat, who was among those who complained about the tweet, also voiced concern about the lack of action against the cross-bench peer.
"To receive a letter from someone as important as the commissioner for standards telling me they will not investigate John Taylor’s remarks raises many questions," he said.
"What does a member of the House of Lords need to do to merit investigation?"
