Action Alert: Submit a complaint against Baron Pearson to the House of Lords for his Islamophobic speech
Monday August 05 2024
On 25 July 2024, Baron Pearson gave a highly disturbing Islamophobic speech to the House of Lords, making inflammatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Quran and Islam, and resorting to the use of Islamophobic tropes to demonise British Muslims.
Pearson went on to repeat ideas of population replacement dominant in far-right circles. He stated that “Birmingham and nine other local authorities will be Muslim majority by 2031”, which he claimed is part of the “radicals’ plan” to “take us over through the power of the womb and the ballot box”. In suggesting a “Muslim threat”, Pearson called for the surveillance of mosques and madrasahs and a ban on Muslim women’s right to wear the burqa.
Former UKIP leader, Baron Pearson has previously made Islamophobic comments, organised a screening of an anti-Muslim film at the House of Lords and invited far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson to Parliament.
With an alarming rise in Islamophobic hate crimes since 7 October 2023 and attacks against Muslims as far-right riots have been breaking out across the country, Baron Pearson’s speech stokes further divisions and gives fuel to the far-right and anti-Muslim sentiment which is at a worrying high.
Baron Pearson needs to be held accountable for his inflammatory speech that is in breach of the House of Lord’s Code of Conduct under which the use of “unacceptable or inappropriate language or racial or other stereotypes” constitutes harassment, reflecting the definition set out in Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010.
We call on you to make a complaint against Baron Pearson under the House of Lords Code of Conduct for harassment and inciting hatred towards Muslims.
ACT NOW by following this step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Download the House of Lords Code of Conduct complaint form https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/lords-commissioner-for-standards/complaint-to-commissioner-form.pdf
Step 2: Under the section ‘Your details’ – enter your personal details.
Step 3: In the section ‘Member or member’s staff concerned’ – enter ‘Lord Malcolm Pearson of Rannoch.
Step 4: ‘Substance of complaint’ – enter the following:
‘On 25 July 2024, Baron Pearson gave a highly disturbing Islamophobic speech to the House of Lords, making inflammatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Quran and Islam, and resorting to the use of Islamophobic tropes to demonise British Muslims. Pearson went on to repeat ideas of population replacement dominant in far-right circles, stating that “Birmingham and nine other local authorities will be Muslim majority by 2031”, which he claimed is part of the “radicals’ plan” to “take us over through the power of the womb and the ballot box”, suggesting an imminent “Muslim threat”. With an alarming rise in Islamophobic hate crimes since 7 October 2023 and attacks against Muslims as far-right riots have been breaking out across the country, Baron Pearson’s speech is highly distressing to Muslims as it stokes further divisions and gives fuel to the far-right and anti-Muslim sentiment which is currently at a worrying high. Baron Pearson needs to be held accountable for his inflammatory speech that is not only in breach of the House of Lord’s Code of Conduct but incites hate against Muslims.’
Step 5: ‘Aspects of the Code engaged’ – enter the following:
‘Baron Pearson’s speech is in breach of the Behaviour Code of the House of Lords Code of Conduct. Paragraph 19 of the Code states that behaviour that amounts to bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct constitutes a breach of the Code. This includes unacceptable or inappropriate language or racial or other stereotypes which creates a humiliating, hostile and offensive environment for Muslims, which constitutes harassment both under the House of Lords Code of Conduct and Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. Baron Pearson’s conduct falls within the Commissioner’s remit as stated in Paragraph 137 of the Guide to the Code as his speech was conducted “in the course of parliamentary activities or duties”. In his use of Islamophobic tropes and conspiracy theories, this is clearly a form of hate speech and should not be considered a matter of freedom of speech in accordance with Paragraph 30(a) of the Code.’
Step 6: ‘Any other supporting details or evidence’ – enter the following:
https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/694ab7c3-f610-4a03-93a0-1c7d74ccd3b1
Step 7: Save the document to your device. Click ‘Click here to email your completed form’ at the bottom of the form. Attach the document to your email and click send.
“Step 4:
‘On 25 July 2024, Baron Pearson gave a highly disturbing Islamophobic speech to the House of Lords, making inflammatory comments about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Quran and Islam, and resorting to the use of Islamophobic tropes to demonise British Muslims. Pearson went on to repeat ideas of population replacement dominant in far-right circles, stating that “Birmingham and nine other local authorities will be Muslim majority by 2031”, which he claimed is part of the “radicals’ plan” to “take us over through the power of the womb and the ballot box”, suggesting an imminent “Muslim threat”. With an alarming rise in Islamophobic hate crimes since 7 October 2023 and attacks against Muslims as far-right riots have been breaking out across the country, Baron Pearson’s speech is highly distressing to Muslims as it stokes further divisions and gives fuel to the far-right and anti-Muslim sentiment which is currently at a worrying high. Baron Pearson needs to be held accountable for his inflammatory speech that is not only in breach of the House of Lord’s Code of Conduct but incites hate against Muslims.’
Step 5:
‘Baron Pearson’s speech is in breach of the Behaviour Code of the House of Lords Code of Conduct. Paragraph 19 of the Code states that behaviour that amounts to bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct constitutes a breach of the Code. This includes unacceptable or inappropriate language or racial or other stereotypes which creates a humiliating, hostile and offensive environment for Muslims, which constitutes harassment both under the House of Lords Code of Conduct and Section 26 of the Equality Act 2010. Baron Pearson’s conduct falls within the Commissioner’s remit as stated in Paragraph 137 of the Guide to the Code as his speech was conducted “in the course of parliamentary activities or duties”. In his use of Islamophobic tropes and conspiracy theories, this is clearly a form of hate speech and should not be considered a matter of freedom of speech in accordance with Paragraph 30(a) of the Code.’ ”