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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/03/labour-mp-clive-lewis-denies-allegation-he-groped-woman
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| Labour MP Clive Lewis denies allegation he groped woman | Labour MP Clive Lewis denies allegation he groped woman |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Labour party is investigating a complaint of sexual harassment against the MP and former frontbencher Clive Lewis over claims he groped a woman at an event during the party conference in September. | The Labour party is investigating a complaint of sexual harassment against the MP and former frontbencher Clive Lewis over claims he groped a woman at an event during the party conference in September. |
| A brief party statement said: “The Labour party is investigating a formal complaint made today against Clive Lewis.” | A brief party statement said: “The Labour party is investigating a formal complaint made today against Clive Lewis.” |
| It is understood that the allegations, made by a party member, are that the former shadow business and defence secretary grasped the woman’s bottom as he gave her a tight hug at the event. | It is understood that the allegations, made by a party member, are that the former shadow business and defence secretary grasped the woman’s bottom as he gave her a tight hug at the event. |
| Lewis told the Independent newspaper, which first reported the allegation, that he denied this had happened. | Lewis told the Independent newspaper, which first reported the allegation, that he denied this had happened. |
| The allegations are in relation to an event held as part of The World Transformed, a series of gatherings organised in parallel to the Labour conference in Brighton, run by the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting group Momentum. | The allegations are in relation to an event held as part of The World Transformed, a series of gatherings organised in parallel to the Labour conference in Brighton, run by the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting group Momentum. |
| It is understood the complaint concerns the same event at which Lewis was recorded as telling the actor Sam Swann, “Get on your knees, bitch.” Lewis apologised for this. Swann said the MP had been drinking and the remark was meant as a joke. | It is understood the complaint concerns the same event at which Lewis was recorded as telling the actor Sam Swann, “Get on your knees, bitch.” Lewis apologised for this. Swann said the MP had been drinking and the remark was meant as a joke. |
| The woman told Independent: “We had a hug and while we were having a hug he gave my bum a big squeeze. | The woman told Independent: “We had a hug and while we were having a hug he gave my bum a big squeeze. |
| “My friend who was there, a fellow delegate … me and him looked at each other and our eyebrows went ‘whoaaa’. | “My friend who was there, a fellow delegate … me and him looked at each other and our eyebrows went ‘whoaaa’. |
| “You kind of jump. I didn’t feel grossed out. I definitely laughed. It felt like if you are hugging a mate. I don’t know. It was over familiar. I had never met him before.” | “You kind of jump. I didn’t feel grossed out. I definitely laughed. It felt like if you are hugging a mate. I don’t know. It was over familiar. I had never met him before.” |
| Lewis told the newspaper: “I wouldn’t do that to someone. It’s not what I do, it’s not my style, it’s not how I roll. I do not do that. They have made the allegation and I totally refute it. If someone hugs me, I hug them back. I would completely deny it.” | Lewis told the newspaper: “I wouldn’t do that to someone. It’s not what I do, it’s not my style, it’s not how I roll. I do not do that. They have made the allegation and I totally refute it. If someone hugs me, I hug them back. I would completely deny it.” |
| Lewis, the MP for Norwich South since 2015, has served as shadow climate change minister, shadow defence secretary and shadow business secretary. He resigned from Corbyn’s shadow cabinet after the government’s Brexit bill was passed overwhelmingly by MPs. | |
| He was one of 52 Labour MPs who rebelled against Corbyn’s three-line whip to vote against the legislation that authorised the government to trigger article 50, the formal process for exiting the EU. | |