Labour MP describes ‘upsetting’ behaviour of colleague who sent cards about her appearance
LABOUR’S Kerry McCarthy has come forward to say she has suffered unwanted attention from MP Kelvin Hopkins spanning 20 years.
The former frontbencher said the Luton North MP sent her a series of letters and cards commenting on her appearance, including one in which he described having a dream about her.
Ms McCarthy, a former shadow environment secretary, is the first MP to make specific claims of inappropriate behaviour since the Westminster scandal erupted.
The Bristol East MP told the Press Association she found his behaviour “upsetting” but did not feel she had anywhere to turn to about it.
She said she had been reassured and encouraged by the response she received after raising it with chief whip Nick Brown last Friday and party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s office on Monday.
But in a statement, Mr Hopkins said Ms McCarthy’s complaint had caused him “immense personal hurt and utter dismay” from someone he counted as a friend.
He added: “I cannot understand why a Parliamentarian of such experience and standing, who is also such a long-term friend, would not have told me that she was unhappy with any aspect of our friendship rather than going straight to the national press.
“At a minimum I would have expected a Parliamentary colleague to raise any complaint through normal channels, allowing me due process and a fair chance to defend myself, if necessary.”
Ms McCarthy said she believed Mr Hopkins, who, she says, urged her in two of the notes to “dispose” of them, knew his actions were wrong.
“I never responded in any way, I never gave him any encouragement in any way, I tried to keep my distance as much as possible,” she said.