Rotherham's Lord Ahmed in suspicious package alert

PARLIAMENT was on high security alert today after a suspicious package was sent to Rotherham peer Lord Ahmed (pictured).

An envelope containing white powder a racially offensive message was delivered to the Labour peer’s office at Westminster at around 12.30pm.

The substance was later reported to be harmless.

There was no evacuation but part of the Palace of Westminster site was closed off temporarily.

The alert was called off an hour after the package was delivered.

A House of Lords spokesman said: “Peers car park and parts of the terrace were closed temporarily but have now been reopened.

"The closure was put in place while a package containing a white powder was investigated by specialist police units, which is standard procedure.

"The powder was found to be non-harmful.”

Lord Ahmed was the first Muslim member of the House of Lords when he was appointed in 1998.