Banned Labour MP hit by more claims – from a colleague
Fellow MP exposes his 20 years of intimate notes
A LABOUR MP suspended from the party over sexual harassment claims was last night accused of ‘really inappropriate’ behaviour towards a Commons colleague.
Kelvin Hopkins, 76, was said to have sent a series of letters to fellow Labour MP Kerry McCarthy, 52, in which he repeatedly said she was ‘attractive’, asked to spend more time with her and – once – said he had dreamed about her.
Miss McCarthy said the letters, which spanned two decades, had made her uncomfortable.
She added that she believed he knew his behaviour was ‘unacceptable’, but he had never physically assaulted her.
Mr Hopkins was suspended by Labour last week after a young female activist complained about his conduct. He has denied sexually harassing Ava Etemadzadeh, 27, by hugging her and rubbing his crotch against her.
The married Luton North MP said he considered Miss McCarthy ‘a long-term friend’ and questioned why she had never told him she was unhappy about his behaviour.
Miss McCarthy, who was Britain’s first vegan MP, said Mr Hopkins began showing her unwanted attention in 1994, when the pair were active in the local Labour Party in Luton. He sent her a card after they went for lunch together, with the message: ‘My only reason for asking you out to lunch is because you are attractive, intelligent and charming.’ He signed it with two ‘x’ kisses and added: ‘PS: best to dispose of this once read!’
Miss McCarthy, a former lawyer, said she found it ‘really intrusive’ and detailed several other notes and cards sent to her in the 1990s. She said he resumed his unwanted attentions in 2005, after she was elected as MP for Bristol East.
She revealed a note he sent two years ago, saying he had dreamt about her, writing: ‘A nice dream. Much time has passed but I do remember earlier times… and you remain a very attractive woman.’ In 2016, he approached her in Parliament about photographs of her which appeared in the House magazine. Miss McCarthy said: ‘He said to me in the coffee queue, “lovely pictures of you, almost pinup quality”.’
Miss McCarthy, a former frontbencher in Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Cabinet, said: ‘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.
‘I absolutely believe he knew this behaviour was unacceptable.
‘It made me feel uncomfortable in his presence and was quite upsetting.’
Miss McCarthy said she had contacted Labour’s chief whip Nick Brown last week after learning about Miss Etemadzadeh’s complaint. She told the Guardian newspaper: ‘She is me – or an even younger version… I don’t believe that I am the only one.’
Mr Hopkins was suspended over a text message he sent to Miss Etemadzadeh in February 2015, when she was 24, which included the words: ‘A nice young man would be lucky to have you as a girlfriend and lover. I am sure one such is soon to be found. Were I to be young… but I am not.’ She complained in 2015 and Mr Hopkins was reprimanded by party whips, but was then appointed as shadow culture secretary in 2016.
Miss Etemadzadeh contacted the party again with fresh information last week. Mr Hopkins has admitted texting her but denied any inappropriate conduct.
Mr Hopkins said he counted Miss McCarthy as a friend and questioned why she had not raised his behaviour with him, instead of going to party whips and the media.
‘This has caused me immense personal hurt and utter dismay,’ he said. ‘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.’
Mr Hopkins said he would fully co-operate with any investigation. A Labour spokesman said Miss McCarthy’s complaint would be considered as part of an ongoing investigation into Mr Hopkins’s behaviour.
‘I don’t believe that I am the only one’