Suspended MP Kelvin Hopkins faces fresh claim of harassment

Kerry McCarthy claims she suffered years of unwanted attention

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 longterm 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.

“I absolutely believe he knew this behaviour was unacceptable. It made me feel uncomfortable in his presence and was quite upsetting.”

She said she decided to go public after the “bravery” of a young activist, Ava Etemadzadeh, who complained last week about Mr Hopkins’ behaviour.

He was suspended by Labour after Ms Etemadzadeh contacted the party again with fresh information following an initial complaint over dealings with the MP in 2014 and 2015.

Mr Hopkins was reprimanded at the time by then chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton but was appointed shadow culture secretary last year.

He “categorically denies” any inappropriate conduct in relation to Ms Etemadzadeh.

Picture: PA. Ms McCarthy and, below, one of the letters she says Kelvin Hopkins sent her.