Labour not taking harassment claim against Kelvin Hopkins seriously, alleged victim claims
A party activist says her allegations against veteran MP Kelvin Hopkins are not being treated with "respect or transparency".
Thursday 14 December 2017 15:31, UK
Labour has been accused by one of its own activists of not taking a probe into alleged sexual harassment by a former frontbench MP seriously enough.
Ava Etemadzadeh was expecting to be informed on Wednesday as to whether her complaint against Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins would be taken to a full hearing of Labour's National Constitutional Committee, but a decision will now not be made until the New Year.
Ms Etemadzadeh, 27, claimed the former shadow environment secretary acted inappropriately and sent her suggestive text messages after they met at a student event in 2014 - allegations denied by the long-serving MP.
Mr Hopkins, 76, was reprimanded after the initial complaint in 2015, but was later promoted to Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet.
"It is deeply disappointing that after my original complaint back in 2015, the party still doesn't know how to handle those making complaints with respect, seriousness and transparency," said Ms Etemadzadeh.
"We've already learnt that Jeremy Corbyn was willing to promote Kelvin Hopkins despite knowing that these outstanding allegations of sexual harassment existed against him.
"This cannot be right. I hope that this further delay means that the case is going to be taken seriously, rather than a further attempt to sweep things under the carpet for one of Jeremy Corbyn's friends."
Ms Etemadzadeh found out about the delay in the media, with Mr Hopkins' lawyers also having been informed before her.
"Disappointing to be getting updates on my case from the media rather than the party," she tweeted.
Mr Hopkins is serving a suspension pending an investigation into Ms Etemadzadeh's complaint and separate claims by fellow Labour MP Kerry McCarthy that he had subjected her to unwanted attention over a number of years.
A Labour spokeswoman said: "The investigation is ongoing. We are not expecting any update until the New Year.
"There may have been a misunderstanding about the process. The process that is taking place is that the NEC panel meets and decides whether there is a case to answer and therefore a formal hearing of the NCC.
"That is the point at which the time limited period comes in."