Baroness Brinton: Lord Sewel's comments 'are sexist and racist and have no place in society'

The disgraced Lord Sewel made remarks about young Asian women

Sal Brinton has hit out at Lord Sewel today (Sal Brinton)

Baroness Brinton, the President of the Liberal Democrats, has blasted the now disgraced peer Lord Sewel, for his comments about young Asian women.

Lord Sewel, who has been recorded allegedly snorting cocaine in his Westminster apartment, has also caused outrage with his comments in the footage, by making derogatory comments about Asian women.

He asks if there will be any “nice little young Asian women” at a party he's discussing, before adding, “they sort of look innocent but you know they are whores."

The Liberal Democrat peer, who assumed office in January this year, has labelled Sewel a man "with little regard for women and a total disregard for the status and responsibility of his role."

"If an MP indulged in such behaviour and still wanted to cling to their seat, they would be accountable to their constituents who would have the chance to expel them from office."

Baroness Brinton hit out at Lord Sewel's comments about women, and about Asian women in particular, labelling them "sexist and racist" with "no place in society."

Lord Sewel appears to be snorting cocaine

The Liberal Democrat has also used the scandal to call for immediate reform of the House of Lords, the Parliamentary Chamber with no democratic accountability.

"Too often members of the House of Lords are afforded the luxury of permanent protection, able to claim public money while being publicly unaccountable.

"After two decades in the House of Lords it seems Lord Sewel felt unburdened by the need or desire to uphold the standards of public life.

"The House of Lords must be reformed as a matter of urgency. In the meantime, Lord Sewel should, if he has any sense of decency, resign immediately."

Lords commissioner for standards Paul Kernaghan, himself a former police chief constable, is now carrying out an initial assessment of the allegations following a formal complaint made by the Liberal Democrats about the peer.

He is expected to decide within 48 hours whether to launch a full investigation that could lead to the peer being expelled from parliament.