Bex Bailey: 'Labour official warned me not to report rape as it would harm my career'

Investigation: Bex Bailey said claims she was raped were 'batted away'

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Kate Proctor1 November 2017

Labour Party officials were today launching an investigation into claims that allegations of rape made by a young party activist were “batted away”.

Labour activist Bex Bailey alleged she was assaulted by a more senior party official at a Labour event in 2011, when she was 19.

Ms Bailey, now 25, said she felt “scared and ashamed” and claimed she had been discouraged from reporting the attack by another party worker who thought it could damage her career.

Sarah Champion, the former shadow secretary of state for Women and Equalities, today told the BBC she was aware of sexual harassment claims made to parties, adding: “I know that those allegations have been raised, I know they have been batted away. Not by the Prime Minister, by the parties — when people have gone through the right channels, whether at local level, at national level, within Westminster, they have been batted away.”

Labour party told labour rape victim not to pursue the allegation

Jeremy Corbyn has launched an investigation into Ms Bailey’s report and is due to discuss the matter with her as a priority.

Dawn Butler, shadow women and equalities minister, has been tasked with ensuring procedures for reporting sexual harassment and assault are improved within the party.

Senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper said parties should introduce an independent system that makes it easier to challenge those in powerful positions.