Red Rev quits as Labour hopeful in sex pest row

A REVEREND aiming to be the first serving vicar MP for 200 years has resigned over sexual harassment claims.

Labour was last night scrambling to find a replacement for Steven Saxby, 48, a father of four who promotes himself as the ‘Red Rev’.

He was the candidate for the high profile seat of Cities of London and Westminster – which is being contested for the Lib Dems by Chuka Umunna, who only left Labour in February.

Rev Saxby had been suspended by Labour over a complaint that he harassed at least one female colleague, the Daily Mail has learnt. His alleged victims are being offered support and advice by Labour.

Rev Saxby initially spoke of fighting the claim and standing for election when vindicated.

But after this newspaper approached him for comment, he abruptly dropped his plans and sent an email telling colleagues: ‘For the good of the local and national party ... I have formally withdrawn my candidacy.’ Earlier this year, the

Mail told how Christine, his wife of 20 years, accused him of repeated affairs – including one with a church organist.

He admitted to ‘hurt I have caused’ and ‘mistakes I have made’. The Church suspended him while it investigates him for adultery and abuse of his position, with his wife as chief witness.

Mrs Saxby is still living in the Edwardian vicarage at St Barnabas in Walthamstow – while her husband has been kicked out and is barred from the church.

In 2017, Rev Saxby was pictured with his arm around transgender model Talulah-Eve Brown, 23, at a Gay Times award ceremony.

The Cities of London and Westminster seat is a key marginal target for Labour. It had been held by Tory Foreign Office minister Mark Field since 2001, with a majority of 3,148. But after controversy in June, when he was captured on film grabbing a female Greenpeace protester by the neck at a Black Tie event in the City, he announced he was stepping down.