Labour launch investigation after Clive Lewis accused of groping woman at party conference
2 min read
Labour officials have launched a formal investigation after allegations of unwanted sexual behaviour were made against a rising star of the party.
Clive Lewis has been accused of groping a 39-year-old woman’s bottom in a packed room at the party’s 2017 conference.
Labour are now investigating claims the Norwich South MP gave the woman’s bottom “a good squeeze”.
The woman has made an official complaint, which Mr Lewis has strongly denied the allegations made against him.
Mr Lewis already came under fire for lewd comments he made at a Momentum event when he was recorded saying “getting on your knees bitch”.
The woman who made the allegations told the Independent: “We had a hug and while we were having a hug he gave my bum a big squeeze.
“My friend who was there, a fellow [constituency party] delegate…me and him looked at each other and our eyebrows went ‘whoaaa’.”
She added: “You kind of jump. I didn’t feel grossed out. I definitely laughed. It felt like if you are hugging a mate. I don’t know. It was over familiar. I had never met him before.”
Her friend told the website that Mr Lewis had put his arm around her and “then he put his hand on her bum”.
The woman said that she had continued to talk to Mr Lewis and that she did not make a complaint immediately because while it came as a “shock” she did not feel initially upset.
She subsequently reconsidered.
Mr Lewis told The Independent that he denied the allegation.
He said: “I wouldn’t do that to someone. It’s not what I do, it’s not my style, it’s not how I roll. I do not do that.
“They have made the allegation and I totally refute it. If someone hugs me, I hug them back. I would completely deny it.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party is investigating a formal complaint made today against Clive Lewis.”
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