Don’t report your rape, Labour Party activist allegedly told

LONDON: An activist in Britain’s opposition Labour Party said she was raped at an event when she was 19, and that a party official discouraged her from reporting the attack to avoid damaging her career.

The disclosure by Bex Bailey, 25, is the most serious to emerge from a wave of allegations of sexual misconduct by men that have swept through British politics in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Labour l eader Jeremy Corbyn, who has ordered an investigation into the allegation, said Bailey was not given support from the party when she reported what had happened.

“Bex Bailey has shown incredible bravery by talking publicly about what has happened to her and has my full support and solidarity,” he said on his Facebook page. “There will be no tolerance in the Labour Party for sexism, harassment or abuse. Whatever it takes, we are absolutely committed to rooting it out.”

Bailey told BBC radio on Tuesday that she was raped in 2011 by someone in the party who was senior to her. She said she had not reported it to police.

“I was scared. I felt ashamed. I know that the Labour Party, like any family, loves a good gossip, and I didn’t want people to know and I also was worried that I wouldn’t be believed if I did,” she said.

Two years later, she told a senior party member, and it was suggested that she not report it as it might damage her if she did.

Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered investigations into two of her ministers. Her deputy, Damian Green, denies making an advance on a woman 30 years his junior, while junior trade minister Mark Garnier has said he was being humorous when he asked his assistant to buy sex toys for him.