A UK Peer has been accused of racism on Tuesday after he branded Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar a “typical Indian”. It is the second time the peer has been criticised over a tweet about Mr Varadkar. 80 year old Lord Kilclooney (John Taylor) was reacting to a news report about criticism of Varadkar's visit to Northern Ireland on Monday. A member of Parliament in that article had accused Varadkar, who is half Indian, of 'poor manners' and disrespect, for not informing a local representative about his trip on Monday. Last November, a tweet in which Lord Kilclooney referred to the Irish prime minister as "the Indian" was described as racist.
He later withdrew the tweet, though a complaint to the House of Lords standards commissioner was dismissed.
Mr Varadkar was born in the Republic. His father is Indian, originally from Maharashtra and his mother is Irish. He was elected taoiseach (Irish prime minster) in June 2017.
Lord Kilclooney who said he would withdraw the tweet, told the BBC that Mr Varadkar had been the "most provocative" over the course of the Brexit negotiations and had "misunderstood the views of many unionists". He also added that Mr Varadkar had a "dismal lack of knowledge" about Northern Ireland affairs.
Lord Kilclooney further wrote on twitter, "It is not racially abusive as he himself has confirmed he is half Indian" but that Mr Varadkar "has damaged North/South relations by being continually offensive and provocative to the Unionist majority in NIreland".
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said Lord Kilclooney was "an embarrassment". She reportedly told the BBC that the comment was a "slur on all Indian people with his use of the word typical". She also added that she wants the speaker of the House of Lords to raise the matter with Lord Kilclooney.
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA Christopher Stalford tweeted: "I don't know what John Taylor (Lord Kilclooney) thinks he's playing at but he doesn't speak for me. Absolutely ridiculous behaviour."
Irish senator Niall O Donnghaile, of Sinn Fein, said he would ask the speaker of the Irish senate to contact the speaker of the House of Lords "urging him to take appropriate action regarding yet another offensive tweet from a member of the House of Lords regarding An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar".
