Friday, October 25

Charlotte Nichols accuses Labour of ‘gaslighting’ her after MP criticised get together’s dealing with of sexual misconduct claims

A Labour MP has accused her personal get together of “gaslighting” her after she criticised its dealing with of sexual misconduct allegations.

Charlotte Nichols, the MP for Warrington North, has claimed Labour solely took motion in opposition to suspended MP Geraint Davies after particulars about his alleged “unacceptable behaviour” grew to become public data.

She has additionally accused her get together of “choosing not to act” over a member of the opposition frontbench, who she says has been the goal of sexual misconduct allegations.

Responding to her feedback, Labour mentioned it has ensured “that there is a wide range of support available to complainants, to provide confidence and confidential guidance throughout the disciplinary process”.

But Ms Nichols has disputed this, accusing Labour of “gaslighting” her.

She tweeted: “Objectively untrue from Labour and always nice to be gaslighted by the party you’ve been a member of since you were a teenager and now represent in Westminster.

“The ethical excessive floor is earned and I’m ashamed we do not have it on this subject, even when no get together has clear palms.”

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Last month, it was reported by Tortoise Media {that a} feminine Labour MP claimed she had been sexually assaulted by a male shadow minister, allegedly after a summer time get together in London in July 2021.

The BBC later reported {that a} criticism was made to the Met Police however they’d not be investigating the matter “at the victim’s request”.

At the time, Labour mentioned it had not been contacted by the police or acquired a proper criticism.

But talking to the Warrington Guardian on Tuesday, Ms Nichols mentioned everybody who has the facility to behave on the case “has the information they need to do so and it’s beyond disappointing that until now my party has chosen not to”.

The backbench MP urged she might title the person within the House of Commons, the place politicians cannot be sued for defamation below the phrases of Parliamentary Privilege.

She pointed to the case of Geraint Davies, who was suspended from Labour final week pending an investigation into stories, which he denies, of “incredibly serious allegations of completely unacceptable behaviour”.

She mentioned: “As the Labour Party only acted in the Geraint Davies case at the point at which his name came into the public domain despite allegations stretching back over an extended period, if this is what it takes to get them to do the right thing, then I reserve the right to do this. “

However, she mentioned she hoped it might not come to this as Labour ought to “not need to be publicly shamed into taking robust action”.

“No party has clean hands on this issue but I expect better from my own.”

Ms Nichols has beforehand spoken of an inventory of 30 MPs she says she was warned to “steer clear” of after being elected in 2019 and condemned a “rotten culture” inside Westminster in relation to dealing with sexual misconduct allegations.

MPs are set to vote on banning members from parliament if they’re below felony investigation for sexual or violent offences later this month amid rising strain over the so-called “pestminster” scandal.

In response to Ms Nichols’ feedback to the Warrington Guardian, a Labour spokesperson mentioned: “We urge anyone with a complaint to come forward to Labour’s independent complaints process, Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme or, if appropriate, the police, so that allegations can be swiftly and fully investigated and action taken.

“The get together has ensured that there’s a big selection of assist out there to complainants, to supply confidence and confidential steerage all through the disciplinary course of.”

Content Source: information.sky.com