A female Labour MP has reported a frontbench colleague to the Metropolitan Police, claiming he sexually assaulted her.
The incident is alleged to have taken place after a summer party in London in July 2021.
Two sources corroborated the female MP’s claim, saying she had alerted them to the assault shortly afterwards.
Senior party figures, including at least one other shadow minister, were also made aware of the claim. She was encouraged to make a formal complaint but told Tortoise she felt his popularity within the party would stand against her.
As a result, no action was taken and the shadow minister has remained in his post.
The female MP approached the Met in recent weeks. She has also spoken to Labour whips over safeguarding issues and concerns about a “wider pattern of behaviour”.
Tortoise is not naming either the woman or the shadow minister, although the identity of both is known.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “We take any allegations of this sort very seriously and would always encourage individuals to go to the parliamentary process, the Labour Party process or the police. In terms of the Labour Party process, it is a thorough, robust and independent process that individuals can have confidence in.”
The Met Police had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Photograph Roger Harris/UK Parliament
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