Following recent revelation of sexual harassment claims, made by five women dating back years, Geraint Davies, a long-serving MP has been suspended from the Labour whip.
After unidentified purported victims filed allegations to a news portal, Geraint Davies, who serves Swansea West in the House of Commons, is now the subject of a congressional investigation.
Since those who have been purportedly harassed lacked faith that, their concerns would be considered seriously, no official complaints concerning Davies have been submitted. Labour stated the allegations are “completely unacceptable behavior” and are “incredibly serious” and urged anyone who wished to file an official complaint to do so immediately.
“Any complainant will have access to an independent support service who provide confidential and independent guidance and advice from external experts throughout the process,” a Labour party spokesperson stated.
Despite attempts to reach Davies for comment, the MP is quoted to have said, “I don’t recognize the claims offered 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.”
Davies has held the position of MP for Swansea West since 2010. He previously served as MP for Croydon Central from 1997 to 2005, until he lost the seat. As a result, even though he continues to represent Swansea West in Parliament, he would sit as an independent member, and cannot serve as a Labour MP, until he is exonerated from all charges.
Geraint Davies has long been part of the Commons Welsh affairs committee, despite never having been a frontbencher. In addition, he was appointed the temporary Chairman of the Environment Select Committee, following Neil Parish’s resignation as a Tory MP, after he was caught viewing porn in the House of Commons.
The shadow immigration Minister, Stephen Kinnock, stated that his party’s whips and members were “very alive” to the issue of bullying in Westminster. The most important thing, according to Kinnock, is that a formal complaint must be filed whenever something similar occurs.
“And I do genuinely believe that our whips and our party is very alive to this issue. People get suspended, they lose the whip, investigations take place. I think we need to make that happen as rapidly and effectively as possible and make sure that anyone who does feel that they have a complaint to make, that they know that they can do so in confidence, and that they will be treated with respect and confidentiality and action will be taken.”
Stephen Pinnock, Shadow Minister for Immigration.
Furthermore, Kinnock emphasized how “completely and utterly unacceptable” it was when politicians abused their positions of authority, although he expressed optimism that conditions had improved recently.
“I got elected to parliament in 2015. And we’ve of course had many, many very troubling stories since then, people in positions of power who abuse that position, and it’s completely and utterly unacceptable when that happens. I hope things may have improved a bit since the #MeToo movement.”
Stephen Pinnock, Shadow Minister for Immigration.
