Jeremy Corbyn sacks Labour peer from frontbench for attending all-male Presidents Club dinner
2 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has sacked a Labour peer from the party's frontbench for attending the controversial Presidents Club dinner.
Lord Mendelsohn, who had been a Labour spokesman on business and international trade, was asked to resign amid claims female members of staff were sexually harassed at the event.
The peer has insisted he did not witness any of the alleged events, which he described as "appalling".
A Labour Lords spokesman said: "Jeremy Corbyn has this evening asked Lord Mendelsohn to step back from the front bench as he attended the Presidents Club dinner, and he has agreed to do so.
”Lord Mendelsohn has previously made clear that he attended part of the dinner as president of a charity that received support from the event and he had no knowledge of an after-party.
“Lord Mendelsohn did not witness any of the appalling incidents described in reports and has unreservedly condemned such behaviour.”
A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: "It's right that Lord Mendelsohn has stepped down.
"The reports about this appalling event were deeply shocking and there can be no excuse for anyone's attendance."
An undercover investigation by the Financial Times revealed young women who worked at the charity dinner, which was held at the Dorchester Hotel in London last week, were allegedly groped by guests.
David Meller was sacked from his position on the Department for Education board for helping to organise the event.
However, children's minister Nadhim Zahawi, who was also there, has clung onto his job despite Theresa May branding the event "appalling".
Mr Zahawi has insisted he left the dinner early and did not witness any of the alleged behaviour.
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