Blackstone QC resigns from House of Lords amid sexual misconduct allegations

Avatar photo

By Thomas Connelly on

Lord Lester says investigation has ‘taken a serious toll’ on his health

Lord Lester

A barrister at Blackstone Chambers accused of sexual harassment 12 years ago has resigned from the House of Lords with immediate effect. Eighty-two-year-old Lord Lester has always denied the allegations but said the investigation had “taken a serious toll” on his health.

The Lords Privileges Committee had recommended public law specialist Lester be expelled from the House after he allegedly offered Jasvinder Sanghera, a campaigner for those experiencing forced marriages, “corrupt inducements” to sleep with him. This was later reduced to a recommend suspension until June 2022.

As reported by Legal Cheek, peers voted last month (101 to 78) to send Lester’s case back to the committee amid claims that the investigation was “manifestly unfair”.

The 2019 Chambers Most List

During a lengthy pre-vote debate, fellow Blackstone barrister and crossbench peer, David Pannick QC, noted that Sanghera was not subjected to cross-examination to test the credibility of her allegations. Continuing, Pannick said his “close friend” had been done an injustice by a flawed system and that “his reputation has been destroyed.”

Confirming his resignation, Lester told The Times (£): “This investigation has taken a serious toll on my health. I have seen today that the committee does not accept the resolution of the House that the commissioner’s investigation did not comply with natural justice, and that it intends instead to bring this matter back to the House of Lords.”

Lester, who was suspended from the Liberal Democrats this year following the allegations, continued:

“I do not have the strength or health to continue. I am sorry that this issue has caused so much upset to everyone involved and very much hope that the House of Lords will now take the long called-for step of reforming its procedures. I have always said that allegations of this kind should be properly investigated.”

For all the latest commercial awareness info, and advance notification of Legal Cheek's careers events:

Sign up to the Legal Cheek Hub

Related Stories

Blackstone Chambers QC faces House of Lords suspension over sexual harassment claims

Lord Lester described the allegations as 'completely untrue'

Nov 13 2018 8:48am

Blackstone QC’s sex harassment suspension BLOCKED by peers

Vote reportedly 'forced' by fellow Blackstone silk Lord Pannick

Nov 15 2018 5:50pm

‘Behind the Gown’: Anonymous Twitter account hopes to expose sexual harassment at the bar

As an independent review criticises Matrix Chambers’ handling of allegations, according to report

Nov 13 2017 2:55pm