Keir Starmer urged anyone with allegations of sexual harassment against Labour politicians to “come forward,” as the party deals with the fallout from a series of misconduct claims.
The U.K. opposition leader was speaking in Somerset days after the suspension of MP Gareth Davies.
Davies lost the Labour whip pending an investigation after POLITICO reported on allegations he subjected five younger female colleagues to unwanted sexual attention. Davies has said he does not “recognize” the allegations, adding: “If I have inadvertently caused offence to anyone, then I am naturally sorry.”
The long-serving MP’s suspension has prompted renewed soul-searching in the party over the way it deals with such complaints. A review of Labour’s internal processes has already been ordered by General Secretary David Evans.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Starmer said he was “obviously concerned about any allegations of this nature, whether that’s in the Labour Party, in parliament or anywhere across the country and [I am] determined to tackle them. That’s why we’ve changed our processes to hopefully give people the confidence to come forward.”
And, in a direct plea to anyone wishing to report potential misconduct, Starmer said: “The most important thing I can say is that to anybody who has concerns or allegations or information: I want them to come forward.
“I want them to feel confident to come forward, and if they’re able to do so they’ll be supported and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
POLITICO reported Friday that two formal complaints had now been made to the U.K. opposition party about Davies, including one lodged by a sitting MP.
The post Keir Starmer: Speak up if you’ve got Labour harassment complaints appeared first on Politico.
