UK party suspends lawmaker as harassment scandal grows

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON

The opposition Labour Party on Friday became embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal that had previously focused on lawmakers and ministers from the ruling Conservatives.

Labour suspended Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins after it was alleged he sexually harassed a party activist two years ago.

Hopkins has yet to comment on the allegations.

In a separate incident, Labour confirmed it had launched an independent inquiry into an allegation by party activist Bex Bailey that she was discouraged by a party official from reporting an alleged rape at a Labour event in 2011.

A Labour spokesman said the party “takes all such complaints extremely seriously and has robust procedures in place”.

Hopkins’s suspension came a day after the resignation of Defense Minister Michael Fallon over a series of allegations.

Fallon said his conduct may have “fallen short” of the standards expected by the U.K. military.

The veteran Conservative Party figure accepted through a spokesman that he repeatedly touched journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer’s knee at a dinner in 2002.

However, he "categorically" denied other allegations that he made inappropriate sexual comments to Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Conservatives’ parliamentary group.

Reports in two newspapers said Leadsom complained about Fallon, accusing him of making "lewd" remarks in 2010 and 2012.

- Dossier

Two other high-profile figures from the Conservative Party, Trade Minister Mark Garnier and former Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb, have both admitted allegations directed at them.

Garnier acknowledged asking a former assistant to buy sex toys and using inappropriate language towards her.

Crabb -- a one-time contender for leadership of the Conservatives -- apologized for sending explicit messages to a young woman after a job interview at Westminster in 2013.

Damian Green, Prime Minister Theresa May's deputy, was also alleged to have made inappropriate advances towards a female activist, Kate Maltby, in 2015. He denied the claims and the U.K. media reported that he is filing a libel action.

Justice Minister Dominic Raab and Aid Minister Rory Stewart have also denied allegations of sexual misconduct after they were named on a list of alleged perpetrators.

The scandal broke as reports emerged that female parliamentary researchers and aides were using a group on the WhatsApp messaging application to share information about alleged sexual harassment and abuse at Westminster.

A list of political figures accused of inappropriate behavior remains largely unverified.

On Monday, May called on Parliamentary Speaker John Bercow to establish an independent mediation service for staff wanting to raise concerns about lawmakers’ behavior and to strengthen a grievance procedure that is currently voluntary.

The prime minister said parliament should be a safe working environment for young people. “I believe it is important that those who work in the House of Commons are treated properly and fairly, as would be expected in any modern workplace,” she said.

May also urged other party leaders to support measures to tighten up the rules.

A spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “There must be robust procedures inside as well as outside parliament for dealing with abuse and harassment.”