The Forfeiture Committee cited multiple factors in its decision, including Lord Ranger’s contentious social media posts about the Sikh community and Pakistanis, as well as a damning 2023 report from the House of Lords Standards Commissioner
Conservative peer Lord Rami Ranger has been stripped of his Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honour following an investigation into social media posts, allegations of bullying, and harassment of journalist Poonam Joshi.
The decision, made by the Forfeiture Committee, marks a significant fall from grace for the businessman and philanthropist, who was previously recognised for services to business and community cohesion.
The Forfeiture Committee cited multiple factors in its decision, including Lord Ranger’s contentious social media posts about the Sikh community and Pakistanis, as well as a damning 2023 report from the House of Lords Standards Commissioner. The report concluded that Lord Ranger had harassed and bullied Indian-origin journalist Poonam Joshi, highlighting a power imbalance that the peer exploited in a series of tweets.
In June 2023, the commissioner found Lord Ranger guilty of persistently undermining, humiliating, and belittling Ms. Joshi through derogatory language. The peer had referred to her as “toxic,” “a total nutcase,” and “the epitome of filth and garbage.” The report condemned his behaviour, stating:
“There is a clear pattern of behaviour involving the use of language that belittles and undermines Ms. Joshi.”
Lord Ranger later apologised to Ms. Joshi for his conduct, though the damage to his reputation was already significant.
Lord Ranger, who has donated approximately £1.5 million to the Conservative Party since 2009, was ennobled in 2019 as part of Theresa May’s resignation honours. However, the Conservative Party withdrew the whip following the Standards Commissioner’s findings. Despite this, the whip was reinstated in November 2024, a move that attracted criticism.
The loss of his CBE, awarded in 2016, adds to a growing list of public figures who have forfeited their honours for bringing the system into disrepute.
Lord Ranger is one of six individuals to lose their honours on the same day. The group includes tech entrepreneur Lawrence Jones, who was jailed for 15 years for sexual offences, and rapper Wiley, who lost his MBE earlier this year for anti-Semitic social media posts.
The forfeiture process underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the honours system. High-profile cases such as these highlight how unacceptable behaviour can lead to severe consequences, even for those at the highest levels of society.
Once celebrated for his contributions to business and community cohesion, Lord Ranger’s reputation is now overshadowed by controversy. The decision to revoke his CBE serves as a stark reminder that honours come with an expectation of conduct befitting the recognition, and breaches of those standards can have lasting consequences.