Dozens of Lords defend Tory peer who called colleague ‘Lord Poppadom’

Catherine Meyer may receive three week suspension, which her defenders say goes against ‘principles of natural justice’

Dozens of members of the House of Lords have signed a letter protesting about the treatment of Catherine Meyer, the Conservative peer who is facing suspension for calling a British-Asian peer “Lord Poppadom” and touching an MP’s braids without permission.

The Tory peer Michael Forsyth and the cross-bencher Ruth Deech are among 27 members who signed a letter to the Telegraph on Tuesday complaining that Meyer’s punishment did not “adhere to the principles of natural justice”.