Labour appoints independent expert to examine sexual harassment complaints

Top QC will lead probe into allegations prominent activist Bex Bailey was raped at a party event and then advised not to report it by a senior official.

Bex Bailey speaks at a Labour Party Annual Conference (Rex)

Labour will appoint an independent expert to deal with allegations of sexual harassment and abuse in the party amid complaints from leading members that its current procedures are "insufficient".

In a sign of how serious the party is taking the growing scandal, Labour has appointed a top QC to lead an independent probe into allegations that activist Bex Bailey was raped at a party event and then advised not to report it by a senior official.

Ms Bailey, a former member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee, said she was told that speaking up about the attack would "damage" her career and the party failed to offer her the support she needed after the 2011 incident.

It comes as The Independent revealed allegations that Labour MP Clive Lewis groped a woman at a conference event - a claim he denies - while party colleague Kelvin Hopkins has been suspended over reports he sent inappropriate text messages to a young activist. He also denies the claims.

Leading human rights barrister Karon Monaghan will undertake an independent investigation into how Labour handled Ms Bailey's allegations and also assess the party's current procedure for handling complaints. She will report back to General Secretary Iain McNicol.

The party will also appoint an independent specialist organisation to offer confidential advice and support to any individual affected by sexual harassment.

Training and advice on how to deal with such cases will also be given to party staff and NEC members.

Earlier, NEC member Jasmin Beckett wrote to Jeremy Corbyn urging him to set up a fully independent body to deal with complaints after Mr McNicol is understood to have said the NEC had agreed a "code of conduct for sexual harassment and gender discrimination" and appointed a panel to police it.

But Ms Beckett, who represents Young Labour on the NEC, said that experiences of sexual harassment within the party were "not rare" among young members, adding: "I am aware of more members wanting to make complaints but not feeling able to do so."

She called for the appointment of an independent external investigator to look into complaints. And she said: "The new sexual harassment policy is still insufficient and makes no attempt to look at the possibility of an independent body to deal with sensitive complaints going forward.

"In light of the recent complaints, I am now convinced that we need to consider these options to ensure members of our party feel able to speak out."

Her warning came as Labour announced an investigation into Mr Hopkins, MP for Luton North, who was accused by 27-year-old Ava Etemadzadeh of sending a series of inappropriate messages in 2015.

She claimed that on one occasion: “He hugged me to say goodbye, held me too tight and rubbed his crotch on me, which I found revolting.”

The party is also investigating Jared O'Mara, who was suspended for making misogynistic remarks on online message boards.

The Conservatives have also been caught up in the growing scandal, while Sir Michael Fallon became the first Cabinet casualty when he quit as Defence Secretary on Wednesday after admitting that his behaviour had "fallen below the high standards required" in the role.