A Labour candidate for a seat in east London is being investigated over an allegation of sexual harassment.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, the chief of Barking and Dagenham Council and Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Barking, has been accused of “inappropriate touching” of the fingers and legs of an attendee at an occasion final month.
The Impartial has seen the main points of the allegations made to Labour’s complaints unit by a celebration member on Friday. It comes after a Labour MP was suspended from the social gathering final week after a criticism about his behaviour.
Mr Rodwell’s alleged sufferer mentioned she met him for a espresso believing the assembly was set as much as focus on a growth in Barking.
Within the communication to the social gathering, the complainant mentioned: “After 10 to fifteen minutes he began asking private questions which I used to be not glad to reply. He was ordering extra drinks for himself.
“As I used to be clearly not glad to be current and was on the lookout for a approach to go away, he began touching my fingers and legs in a sexual means.
“He clearly had different concepts concerning the assembly. He touched my legs and physique inappropriately and I’ve made it clear to him that I didn’t need him to the touch me and left the assembly instantly.
The criticism file reads: ”The complainant has acquired affirmation that an investigator can be contacting her regarding the allegations.”
Labour has declined to touch upon what it calls an ongoing disciplinary matter, nonetheless, the allegation now raises questions over whether or not Cllr Rodwell will nonetheless be allowed to face within the election.
Final week former Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle was suspended by the social gathering over “historic allegations” and prevented from standing as a candidate.
The Impartial has additionally contacted Mr Rodwell however not acquired a response.
Mr Rodwell is hoping to exchange Labour veteran Dame Margaret Hodge because the MP for Barking.
He’s a extremely influential native authorities determine in London who has been praised for delivering extra new housing than some other borough.
He has attended soccer matches with Sir Keir Starmer and has led the regeneration of Barking and Dagenham following the closure of the Ford manufacturing unit. This included bringing in a movie studio, a college campus and a free port.
Final week it emerged Mr Rodwelll had claimed there was a “smear marketing campaign” in opposition to him relating to historic footage of him making allegedly racist remarks.
The incident in 2019 noticed him joke he had “the worst tan potential for a Black man” at a Black Historical past Month occasion within the London borough.
When the clip emerged in October 2022 he apologised admitting his remarks have been “extraordinarily silly and embarrassing”.
However in an e-mail to a supporter which emerged final week, he mentioned: “What I can let you know is that it was a part of a smear marketing campaign in opposition to me.”
Mr Rodwell was additionally criticised for looping banners over gravestones in Barking when he launched his parliamentary marketing campaign final October.
Labour has set a deadline of 4 June to finalise candidates with nominations formally closing at 4pm on 7 June for candidates to be formally registered.
