John Woodcock quits Labour and claims he won't get 'fair hearing' over sexual harassment allegations

John Woodcock has resigned from the Labour party to sit as an independent MP, The Telegraph understands. 

In his resignation letter the MP, who is under investigation over allegations of sexual harassment, said Jeremy Corbyn's decision not to appoint an independent investigation for his case led him to leave the party. 

He also warned Mr Corbyn would be a "risk to UK national security as Prime Minister".

Mr Woodcock, a fierce critic of Mr Corbyn, was suspended in April amid claims he sent inappropriate messages to a member of staff. 

The MP has consistently said he "does not accept" the allegation against him. 

At the time he claimed the allegations made against him had been leaked to the press by a member of Labour party staff. The party said all claims are investigated fairly. 

Mr Woodcock informed Mr Corbyn of his decision to leave on Wednesday morning, just hours before Prime Minister's Questions and amidst claims the Labour leader had been confronted by another of his MPs over anti-Semitism. 

In his resignation letter he said: "I have promised to fight for local jobs, promote a credible alternative Government, protect the shipyard and ensure the safety of my constituents through strong defence and national security.

"I now believe more strongly than ever that you have made the Labour Party unfit to deliver those objectives and would pose a clear risk to UK national security as a Prime Minister. 

"The party for which I have campaigned for since I was a boy is no longer the broad church it has always historically been. Anti-Semitism is being tolerated and Labour has been taken over at nearly every level by the hard left, far beyond the dominance that they achieved at the height of 1980s militancy. 

"There is little chance of returning the Labour party to the inclusive, mainstream electoral force my constituents desperately need. In these circumstances, I can no longer justify engaging in a rigged process to be re-admitted to it. 

"I strongly deny the charge made against me but am committed to the complaint being thoroughly and fairly investigated."

When the allegations against him were announce earlier this year Mr Woodcock said: "I do not accept the charge being brought against me but have been co-operating fully with the process and remain committed to a thorough and fair investigation of the case," he said.

"I am therefore very concerned that one of the very few individuals with knowledge of the case chose to place selective details of it in newspapers this weekend. Labour's new general secretary has cited this publicity as a reason to suspend me from the Labour whip.

"The decision at this politically charged time to place details of my case in the press and then suspend me places a serious question mark over the integrity of the process, which serves neither those making complaints nor those facing allegations."

A Labour Party spokesman said: "Jeremy thanks John for his service to the Labour Party."