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ABUSE THREAT

Labour MP threatens to quit party after it emerges woman ‘abused by politician’ could be quizzed by her attacker during investigation

Jess Phillips threatened to cut up her membership card if Labour activist Ava Etemadzadeh was subject to questioning from Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins

A LABOUR MP has threatened to quit the party if it allows a man alleged to have harassed a woman to question the woman who accused him.

Jess Phillips last night threatened to cut up her membership card if Labour activist Ava Etemadzadeh was subject to questioning from Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins.

 Labour's Jess Phillips said she would quit the party if the activist's alleged harasser was allowed to question her
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Labour's Jess Phillips said she would quit the party if the activist's alleged harasser was allowed to question herCredit: Alamy

Student Ms Etemadzadeh said she had been left "anxious" waiting for the outcome of an investigation into Mr Hopkins, who she accused of rubbing up against her at an event, and sending her inappropriate messages.

Another MP, Kerry McCarthy, also claimed she experienced unwanted harassment from Mr Hopkins over 20 years. Mr Hopkins has denied the claims.

But now it has emerged that he could get the chance to indirectly submit questions to the student over the allegations.

The pair will not meet face to face, but could be asked questions from him.

 Kerry McCarthy revealed a series of notes the MP had sent her
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Kerry McCarthy revealed a series of notes the MP had sent herCredit: PA
 Kelvin Hopkins has been accused of being inappropriate to an activist and an MP
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Kelvin Hopkins has been accused of being inappropriate to an activist and an MPCredit: PA

In emails she put online, the Party suggested he could question her by audio-link, but Ms Etemadzadeh said since the news became public the party has "backtracked".

She said yesterday: "It will remind me of the things I went through. I would not feel comfortable.

"This system written on the back of a fag packet when I made my complaint, being interpreted entirely in Kelvin Hopkins’ favour, is totally not fit for purpose."

The party has insisted she will not have to respond to him in person.

Labour MP Jess Phillips threatened to quit the party altogether if it was allowed to happen.
She tweeted: "I swear to god if this is true and I really hope it's a misunderstanding. I will cut up my Labour party membership card."
Mr Hopkins is currently suspended from the party while the claims are investigated, and the matter will go to Labour's ruling body in the coming weeks.
Labour MP Kerry McCarthy submits letters she received from suspended Kelvin Hopkins to the Westminster harassment investigation