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Corbyn ‘warned over promoting’ accused Hopkins

RESIGNED Sir Michael Fallon out last night LABOUR has been drawn deeper into the Westminster sleaze crisis after it emerged Jeremy Corbyn’s chief whip raised concerns at him promoting an MP accused of harassment.

Dame Rosie Winterton questioned the appointment of Kelvin Hopkins as Shadow Culture Secretary in 2016, say party sources.

Ava Etemadzadeh, 27, first raised allegations about Mr Hopkins’ alleged behaviour more than three years ago. The MP was suspended from the party on Thursday over claims he sent lewd texts and rubbed his crotch against the activist.

But Mr Hopkins, 76, last night “absolutely and categorically” denied the allegations, adding: “I did not rub any part of my body, let alone my crotch, against Ava.”

He also gave details of a text from Ms Etemadzadeh, telling him: “You’re a star.”

Meanwhile, Labour MP Clive Lewis is under investigation by the party after an official complaint that he groped a woman at the annual conference just weeks ago in Brighton.

The 39-year-old woman, who has not been named, has said: “We had a hug and he gave my bum a big squeeze. It was over familiar.”

Mr Lewis replied: “I wouldn’t do that. It’s not my style. They’re lying or they’re wrong.”

Labour have appointed independent legal expert Karon Monaghan QC to probe allegations activist Bex Bailey, 19 at the time, was raped at a party event six years ago.

The teenager told a senior official about the incident but was urged not to report it.

Ms Monaghan will also consider the party’s current procedures for handling complaints.

Number 10 last night denied reports Leader of the House Angela Leadsom had asked Theresa May to sack Sir Michael Fallon.