Ava Etemadzadeh: Decision to delay Kelvin Hopkins harassment investigation ‘deeply disappointing’
3 min read
A Labour activist has hit out after the party delayed the outcome of its investigation into her claims of sexual harassment against former Shadow Cabinet member Kelvin Hopkins.
Ava Etemadzadeh said the decision to postpone a ruling on the case revealed the party does not know how to handle complaints with “respect, seriousness and transparency”.
Mr Hopkins was first reprimanded over Ms Etemadzade's allegations by Labour's whips office in 2016, but later that year he was appointed Shadow Culture Secretary by Jeremy Corbyn.
Labour launched its formal investigation into the Luton North MP last month after Ms Etemadzadeh accused him of rubbing his crotch against her and sending her inappropriate text messages.
The inquiry was then widened after Labour MP Kerry McCarthy accused Mr Hopkins - who has been suspended by the party - of behaving inappropriately towards her over a period of 20 years.
An email to Ms Etemadzadeh from a Labour official said that she would be informed by today whether the party's sexual harassment panel was ordering a full hearing into her complaint.
But Labour announced today that there would be no further developments in the case until the New Year.
Ms Etemadzadeh said: “Today I've learnt from the media that the Labour party's previously promised deadline for a decision on our complaints about Kelvin Hopkins MP will not be met.
"I would have hoped that the party would have had the courtesy to tell me first, but after the last two years of this saga sadly nothing comes as a surprise.
"It is deeply disappointing that after my original complaint back in 2015, the party still doesn't know how to handle those making complaints with respect, seriousness and transparency. We've already learnt that Jeremy Corbyn was willing to promote Kelvin Hopkins despite knowing that these outstanding allegations of sexual harassment existed against him.
"This cannot be right. I hope that this further delay means that the case is going to be taken seriously, rather than a further attempt to sweep things under the carpet for one of Jeremy Corbyn's friends.”
'LOVELY YOUNG WOMAN'
Ms Etemadzadeh revealed last month that text messages were sent by 76-year-old Mr Hopkins calling her “a lovely young woman," adding that a “nice young man would be lucky to have you as a girlfriend and lover…Were I to be young”.
Recounting an alleged incident at a political event, Ms Etemadzadeh said: "He hugged me to say goodbye, held me too tight and rubbed his crotch on me, which I found revolting.”
Bristol East MP Ms McCarthy claimed she began receiving unwanted attention from Mr Hopkins in the mid-1990s, when the pair were chairs of neighbouring constituency parties in Luton.
She said: “He invited me to lunch – I thought, two constituency chairs, it made sense. I would have been 29, maybe 30.”
A note she received afterwards, allegedly sent to her by Mr Hopkins, said: “My only reason for asking you out to lunch is because you are attractive, intelligent and charming. PS: best to dispose of this once read!”
“That to me felt really intrusive,” Ms McCarthy said.
She also revealed further correspondence from Mr Hopkins since she became an MP in 2005.
One letter, written on parliamentary paper, said: “I dreamt about you last night. A nice dream.
“Much time has passed but I do remember earlier times … and you remain a very attractive woman.”
Speaking to The Guardian today, Ms McCarthy said: "I’m pretty frustrated that this is dragging on, and I particularly don’t think it’s fair on Ava. He has had ample time to prepare his formal response."
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