Labour has suspended veteran MP Geraint Davies pending an investigation into “incredibly serious allegations of completely unacceptable behaviour”.
The decision on Thursday means the MP for Swansea West is, until further notice, barred from representing the UK opposition party in parliament.
It followed claims, first reported by Politico, that he had subjected five women to unwanted physical and verbal sexual attention on the parliamentary estate.
An investigation by the news organisation detailed a pattern of inappropriate behaviour — including unwanted touching and excessive drinking — towards other Labour MPs and party activists over at least five years.
Davies, who has represented the Welsh constituency since 2010, sits on several prominent parliamentary committees. Between 1997 and 2005, he was MP for the London constituency of Croydon Central.
Responding to Thursday’s report, Labour officials confirmed Davies’ membership of the party had been “administratively suspended” pending an investigation, along with the party whip.
Labour said: “These are incredibly serious allegations of completely unacceptable behaviour. We strongly encourage anyone with a complaint to come forward.
“Any complainant will have access to an independent support service who provide confidential and independent guidance and advice from external experts throughout the process,” it added.
Davies did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Financial Times but told Politico that he did not “recognise the allegations suggested”.
“None of them, as far as I know, has been lodged as complaints with the Labour party or parliament,” he said. “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 is the latest Labour MP to be subject to internal disciplinary action. The party last month suspended Diane Abbott, former home affairs spokesperson and a key ally of ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn, after she suggested Jewish people had not been “subject to racism”.