Coyle, who has represented Bermondsey and Old Southwark since 2015, has stepped down from his position on the Work and Pensions Committee after serving for only a few weeks. He was elected to the committee in October, following an unsuccessful bid for the role of chair.
His departure comes after a reported incident during a private committee meeting in early November, during which concerns were raised about his behavior. According to three individuals familiar with the situation, Coyle allegedly directed verbal outbursts at parliamentary staff. One source characterized his demeanor as “really aggressive,” while a fourth person, who was also present, described it as “robust” rather than aggressive.
Coyle has strongly denied any formal complaints regarding his behavior, accusing POLITICO of being misinformed and labeling any suggestion of a link between his conduct and his resignation as “vexatious nonsense.” He clarified that no formal complaint process had been initiated against him.
Coyle stated his decision to step down was driven solely by his new role as Labour’s political lead for the London region. While he did not directly address the allegations about his conduct, he alluded to “professional disagreements.”
In a statement, Coyle expressed enthusiasm for his new responsibilities, saying, “I am delighted to be taking on a new role as Labour’s political lead for the capital, with more campaigning and other responsibilities that clash with the select committee.”
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