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LONDON — An aide to the U.K. Labour Party who was accused of sexual harassment resigned Thursday after POLITICO revealed he was to be let off with a warning.
The senior adviser, who was employed by a member of Keir Starmer’s frontbench team, was alleged to have groped a young female intern — a complaint which was upheld by two separate investigations.
She complained first to the parliamentary authorities, which resulted in a letter of apology, and then to the Labour Party, which took three years to investigate the case.
When the party reached a decision last month they informed the woman he would only be issued with a “final warning” and no further disciplinary action would be taken, leading to an outcry from senior women in the party.
However, the party confirmed Thursday the man had quit his post.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Two separate investigations were carried out… into the same complaint received about an individual. He fully complied with the processes of both of those investigations and the remedial action recommended.
“This individual has now left his position.”
Responding to the initial story, Keir Starmer’s spokesman insisted the party had a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and that the investigation process was “independent and robust.”
Labour MPs warned that they expected to see tough action for those found to have engaged in misconduct. Pressed on the case, Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Times Radio: “I don’t think anyone who behaves that way should continue with employment in any circumstance.”
The woman who made the complaint told POLITICO: “Although I am glad that the member of staff has resigned, i shouldn’t have had to spend years pursuing this case and the party should have taken action first.
“There are still big questions to answer for the member of the front bench, and other senior officials who knew about his behaviour, and took no action.”
