 Until a sexual harassment complaint was made in February 2018 Lester sat as a Liberal Democrat.On 12 November 2018, the House of Lords Committee for Privileges and Conduct made a recommendation that he be suspended from the House of Lords until June 2022 as a result of a complaint of sexual harassment from Jasvinder Sanghera.On 15 November 2018, on a vote (101–78) on the floor of the House of Lords, the recommendation of the Committee was not accepted.