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Suspended Labour MP Geraint Davies faces formal complaint over behaviour
1 June 2023, 09:35 | Updated: 1 June 2023, 20:27
The Labour Party has reportedly received a formal complaint about the behaviour of suspended MP Geraint Davies.
Labour MP Geraint Davies has been suspended by the party after alleged sexual harassment of younger female staffers spanning five years.
Five women told POLITICO that Davies subjected them to unwanted physical and verbal sexual attention after he met them through his work as an MP.
One of the allegations came from a woman who was only 19 at the time.
Many of the allegations were said to have taken on the parliamentary estate in bars or after late-night votes.
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POLITICO later reported that a different woman had submitted a formal complaint to the party, which The BBC says it has confirmed.
Responding to the reports, Davies, 63, told POLITICO: “If I have inadvertently caused offence to anyone, then I am naturally sorry.”
Around 20 people who worked with Davies contributed to the allegations, describing excessive drinking, sexual comments and unwanted touching from the 1997 intake MP - which took place over the last five years.
Two MPs made allegations of unwanted touching - one saying that he pressed his leg against hers during a meeting and another saying he grabbed her waist from behind following a late-night vote.
Another MP, who was not propositioned, said: “He genuinely makes me feel uncomfortable. He gets in your personal space — it’s distasteful. You can see that other women feel uncomfortable around him.”
Davies said: “I don’t recognize the allegations suggested and do not know who has made them. None of them, as far as I know, has been lodged as complaints with the Labour Party or parliament.
“If I have inadvertently caused offence to anyone, then I am naturally sorry as it is important that we share an environment of mutual and equal respect for all.”
A Labour spokeswoman said: "These are incredibly serious allegations of completely unacceptable behaviour.
"We strongly encourage anyone with a complaint to come forward to the Labour Party's investigation.
"Any complainant will have access to an independent support service who provide confidential and independent guidance and advice from external experts throughout the process."
LBC has approached Geraint Davies for a statement.