British MPs accused of racism towards Irish PM

DUBLIN: A British parliamentarian was accused of racism on Tuesday after branding Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar a "typical Indian".

John Taylor, 80, known as Lord Kilclooney, was reacting to a news report about criticism of Varadkar's visit to Northern Ireland on Monday. In the article, a member of parliament had accused Varadkar of "poor manners" and showing disrespect by not informing a local representative about his trip on Monday.

Kilclooney, a member of the British parliament's appointed upper House of Lords since 2001, said Varadkar, who has an Indian father and an Irish mother, was a "typical Indian".

Kilclooney had 10 years as a member of the European Parliament from 1979 and 18 years as a member of the British parliament's elected lower House of Commons from 1983 before joining the Lords. Kilclooney used to represent Northern Ireland's Ulster Unionist Party. UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said his remark was a "racist comment".