Labour anticipated to drop common election candidate for Barking Darren Rodwell underneath investigation for alleged sexual harassment | EUROtoday

Labour is predicted to drop a common election candidate days after The Independent revealed he was underneath investigation for alleged sexual harassment.

Darren Rodwell, the social gathering’s candidate for Barking, has been accused of ‘inappropriate touching’ of a lady at an occasion final month.

He was not on a listing of candidates rubber stamped by the social gathering’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Tuesday.

Although he may nonetheless technically be authorised earlier than nominations shut on Friday afternoon, a leaked memo suggests the social gathering is planning to ditch him.

It will not be the primary time the controversial politician, hoping to exchange Labour veteran Dame Margaret Hodge because the MP for the world, has hit the headlines.

In 2019 Mr Rodwell, who’s white, joked at a Black History Month occasion that he had “the worst tan possible for a Black man”.

When the clip emerged two years in the past he apologised and stated his remarks had been “extremely stupid and embarrassing”.

But in an electronic mail to a supporter, revealed by The Independent final week, he stated: “What I can tell you is that it was part of a smear campaign against me.”

An electronic mail from the workplace of the final secretary says Labour is “not recommending” an endorsement in Barking as there are “excellent NEC processes but to conclude”, according to reports by Sky News.

Of the more recent allegations, Mr Rodwell’s alleged victim said she met him for a coffee while at an event, believing they would discuss a development in Barking.

She told Labour: “After 10 to 15 minutes, he started asking personal questions which I was not happy to answer. He was ordering more drinks for himself.

“As I was obviously not happy to be present and was looking for a way to leave, he started touching my hands and legs in a sexual way.

“He clearly had other ideas about the meeting. He touched my legs and body inappropriately and I’ve made it clear to him that I did not want him to touch me and left the meeting immediately.”

Her file reads: “The complainant has received confirmation that an investigator will be contacting her in regards to the allegations.”

Labour declined to comment on an ongoing disciplinary matter.

In a statement, Mr Rodwell said: “I utterly refute what is being said, specifically: I have not engaged in sexual harassment of any kind; I did not indulge in ‘inappropriate touching’ of an attendee at an event last month; I have no recollection of meeting someone for a coffee to discuss development in Barking; there is no evidence of any such meeting in my diary; likewise, I have no recollection of asking personal questions.”

He went on: “It’s not clear what drinks I was ordering, but for the record, I do not drink alcohol. It is inconceivable I would have touched someone’s hands, legs and body inappropriately.

“I can only imagine that I am a victim of some sort of attempt to prevent me being selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Barking. I am prepared to fully address this complaint, I am in process of consulting lawyers and I would ask it were expedited so my candidature can proceed.

“I believe the people of Barking deserve an MP who knows the constituency well and will properly look after and promote their interests. I look forward to serving them should I be successful.”

An influential native authorities determine in London, he has been praised for delivering extra new housing than in some other borough and attended soccer matches with Sir Keir Starmer.

The investigation into him emerged similtaneously a BBC report claimed Mr Rodwell had requested police to not reply in the event that they have been contacted by a resident he was planning to confront at their residence.

“I found out where the person lived,” he advised a podcast, “because I have the ways and means – so I used them.”

He added: “My office phoned the police up and said the leader wants to let you know: ‘Don’t worry if you get a call from this address’.”

The incident was prompted by a Facebook web page arrange in 2022 which he stated was designed to “have me taken out”.

Mr Rodwell additionally recounted how, in a separate incident, he chased two males down the road with a baseball bat after they attacked his residence.

Labour and Mr Rodwell have been approached for remark.