Yahoo News Veteran MP Kelvin Hopkins suspended from Labour Party amid claims he sent suggestive texts to a party activist
The Labour Party has suspended one of its MPs after claims he sent suggestive texts to a party activist.
Kelvin Hopkins, MP for Luton North, has been suspended while the Labour Party carries out an investigation into claims that he acted inappropriately three years ago.
The revelations have sparked criticism of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for promoting Mr Hopkins to the shadow cabinet after Ava Etemadzadeh, 27, had complained about his behaviour to the party three years ago.
According to the Telegraph, Miss Etemadzadeh complained to the whips’ office after dealings with Mr Hopkins in 2014 and 2015.
The MP was reportedly reprimanded by then chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton following the complaint, but was later promoted to the shadow cabinet, where he served as culture spokesman from June 2016 to October that year.
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A Labour Party spokesman said on Thursday: “On the basis of allegations received by the Labour Party today, Kelvin Hopkins has been suspended from party membership, and therefore the Labour whip, while an investigation takes place.
“The Labour Party takes all such complaints extremely seriously and has robust procedures in place to deal with them.”
Ms Etemadzadeh is understood to have given fresh information when she contacted the party about the allegations on Thursday.
Mr Hopkins, 76, is the latest politician to be caught up in the wave of allegations over inappropriate behaviour in Westminster.
Sir Michael Fallon quit as Defence Secretary on Wednesday after admitting that his behaviour had “fallen below the high standards required” in the role. It has since emerged that Cabinet colleague Andrea Leadsom reportedly passed a dossier of claims concerning his behaviour to Number 10.
Prime Minister Theresa May, who is currently under fire for appointing former chief whip Gavin Williamson to replace Sir Michael, has called a meeting of all party leaders on Monday to agree a new system of dealing with abuse complaints in Parliament.
(Top picture: PA)
