A notice published in the London Gazette on Friday, external said the King had directed that Lord Ranger’s honour should be “cancelled and annulled”.
He was made a CBE in 2016 for services to business and community cohesion in 2016, before being made a peer in Theresa May’s resignation honours in 2019.
A spokesperson for Lord Ranger said the peer “has not committed any crime nor has he broken any law, where the majority of the people who have had their honour revoked in this way have committed a crime or broken the law”.
“It is a sad indictment that the honours system which is designed to empower individuals who go the extra mile and, as a result, contribute a great deal to the nation should be used to curtail the basic fundamental rights of free speech and thought process,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson went on to say Lord Ranger had apologised and undertaken rehabilitative work regarding complaints that had been made against him, adding that the decision would “encourage individuals to make spurious complaints about others”.
“He is looking at all options for redress via various legal avenues open to him and will challenge this unjust decision in order to vindicate himself and clear his name in the UK and abroad. Lord Ranger was a worthy recipient of his CBE,” they added.
“The manner in which it has been taken from him is shameful.”
