Lewis was accused of groping a woman at Labour’s conference in 2017. He was later cleared

A Labour leadership candidate may lack the credibility to head the party because of his response to sexual harassment claims, according to leaked texts from within his own campaign.

Clive Lewis was one of the first MPs to declare his intention to succeed Jeremy Corbyn and is expected to receive support from the party’s left-wing grassroots.

However, a WhatsApp group of his campaign organisers and prominent left-wingers reveals splits over his approach to #MeToo allegations and Brexit policy.

Lewis was accused of groping a woman at Labour’s conference in 2017. He was later cleared. The former soldier was also forced to apologise for language used at a fringe event after telling an activist to “get on your knees, bitch”. On declaring his candidacy, Lewis seemed