Kelvin Hopkins, who was suspended from Labor over sexual harassment claims, faces fresh allegations from a fellow party MP about quick behavior towards her over more than two decades.
Kerry McCarthy the MP for Bristol East, says she's receiving received from Hopkins in the mid-1990s - when the pair were both active in the Luton Labor party - but the most recent incident was less than two years ago.
McCarthy says he has never reported his behavior whisper, Nick Brown, to support Ava Etemadzadeh, who claimed Hopkins sent her an inappropriate text and rubbed his crotch against her . Her allegations led to his suspension from the party last week.
McCarthy said the questioning of Etemadzadeh's claims and motives in the media had prompted her to come forward. "She is me - or an even younger version," McCarthy said, adding, "I do not believe that I am the only one."
She said Hopkins, now 76, began paying her unwanted attention in 1994, when the pair were chairs of neighbouring constituency parties, McCarthy in Luton North and Hopkins in Luton South.
"He invited me to lunch - I thought, two constituency chairs, it made sense. I would have been 29, maybe 30, "she said.
Shortly afterwards, a card from Hopkins arrived at McCarthy's workplace in London, with the message: "He added" PS: best to dispose of this once read! "
"That to me felt really intrusive," McCarthy said.
She said Hopkins resumed her unwanted attentions. She sent her two notes on parliamentary notepaper, the most recent of which was received in the past three years and said: "I dreamt about you last night. A nice dream. "
It goes on: "Much time has passed but I do remember earlier times ... and you still a very attractive woman."
The Guardian has a total of five cards or notes sent by Hopkins to McCarthy over the years. In one, he said, "I think this is a pretty pretty woman." In 1975,
Hopkins issued a statement on Friday night that caused his suspension had put him under "tremendous stress and pressure. The media camped outside my house and I have to leave my home with my wife to get away from the extraordinary intrusion into my family life. "
The MP said he was deeply saddened by McCarthy's decision to complain about him via the media and that he should have told him if he "was unhappy with any aspect of our friendship".
If Kerry McCarthy MP raises a complaint with the Labor party in normal and fair way, I will of course fully cooperate with any investigation. However I do ask, on my behalf and on behalf of all the other persons and dealing with the unfair, humiliating one-sided trial by media. "
Hopkins admitted to texting Etemadzadeh but "absolutely and categorically" denied any "tent conduct".
He was suspended by the Labor wherever he was on the 27-year-old Etemadzadeh in February 2015, which included the words: "A nice young man would be lucky to have you as a girlfriend and lover . I am sure one of these is soon to be found. Were I to be young ... but I am not. "
McCarthy said she took her evidence to the whips before approaching the media; and a Labor spokesman of Hopkins.
McCarthy stressed that Hopkins never attempted to physically assault her, but his behavior made her feel uncomfortable and led her to carefully avoid him. "I was really, really wary of him."
McCarthy said she was approached by Hopkins in parliament in January 2016 after an interview with her was published in House magazine while she was the shadow environment secretary. "He said to me in the coffee queue - lovely pictures of you, almost pinup quality."
The Bristol MP, who stepped down from Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet amid the mass resignations that followed the Brexit referendum, said she was compelled to come forward after Etemadzadeh was criticized for her account of a recent encounter with Hopkins.
"None of it is very tangible. If I had told anyone, it would have just been like gossip, instead of a complaint - you've seen what it is. But it is really inappropriate, "McCarthy said.
