Tory MP Bob Stewart has voluntarily relinquished the Conservative Party whip after being convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence, pending a potential appeal.
He was fined £600 for telling activist Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei to "go back to Bahrain" during an altercation in Westminster. The incident occurred after Alwadaei questioned Stewart about his connections to the Bahraini government.
Stewart, who served in Bahrain as an Army officer in the 1960s, responded to Alwadaei aggressively during the confrontation. His relinquishment of the whip means he will serve as an independent MP until the situation is resolved. Labour and the Liberal Democrats had previously called for Stewart to lose the whip.
After the conviction, Alwadaei emphasized the need for MPs to be held accountable, irrespective of race. The magistrate noted that while Stewart is not broadly racist, he committed a racially aggravated act. In addition to the fine, Stewart must also pay £835 in legal costs.