An SNP MP has said she will report a peer to the police for an alleged hate crime.
On Wednesday in the House of Commons, Hannah Bardell accused independent unionist peer Lord Ken Maginnis of verbally "abusing" security staff on the parliamentary estate after he forgot his security pass.
Later, the HuffPost news website reported that Lord Maginnis did not deny the claims and had said: "Queers like Ms Bardell don't particularly annoy me. OK, she's got her cheap publicity out of it."
Speaking during business questions, Ms Bardell - who is openly gay - told MPs: "I'm sorry to say, that the member from the other place who I have complained about has now launched a homophobic attack on me in the press.
"This will be reported to the police and I know that I and others consider this to be a hate crime."
Responding, Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg called Lord Maginnis's language "disgraceful".
He told MPs: "The attack on the honourable lady was unutterably disgraceful and she is clearly owed an apology by the noble lord for what he said about her.
"I think everybody who heard about that was shocked by the comments that he is reported to have made and has not denied.
"I think they are really appalling and I know we are not allowed to criticise members of the other House, the other place, except on a specific motion, but I think under these circumstances we are allowed to stretch the rules."
