This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Andy Burnham, the former health secretary, has accused Labour of “hounding out” the shadow work and pensions minister, Debbie Abrahams.

Abrahams was sacked on Tuesday after an investigation into allegations of bullying that she insists was not conducted thoroughly or fairly. She strongly denies the allegations.

Burnham, who is now mayor of Greater Manchester, was speaking on his regular BBC Radio Manchester programme on Wednesday. “It feels to me like she’s almost been kind of hounded out of her position and I have a huge amount of sympathy for her,” he said.

Abrahams, the MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said after her dismissal that she had experienced “aggressive, intimidating and wholly unprofessional” behaviour from “certain individuals” in Jeremy Corbyn’s office.

She said she would make a formal complaint to the party and the parliamentary authorities.

Burnham said he had been absolutely astonished by Abrahams’ sacking.

“That is not the Debbie Abrahams that I know. She is one of the kindest, warmest most decent people you could ever hope to meet,” he said.

“If Debbie is saying the investigation hasn’t been fair or thorough then I believe her. I think this matter now has to be put to the NEC to have independently adjudicated.

“I’ve been in the cabinet and shadow cabinet and I’ve never seen someone taken out of a cabinet or shadow cabinet job in this way, and I’m very worried about it. If there are allegations, make sure they’re fairly investigated ... I find it very very sad that we’re in this position.”

The party’s defenders say that there would be no reason to pursue charges unless there were allegations. Members of the shadow cabinet serve entirely at the discretion of the party leader, who can hire and fire as he sees appropriate.

On Tuesday, Abrahams said: “I strongly refute the allegations of bullying made against me. I believe the investigation was not thorough, fair or independent. I will continue to represent the people of Oldham East and Saddleworth, and to hold this government to account, from the backbenches.”

There were reports that several allegations of bullying were made against Abrahams, and the Guardian understands the initial investigation was as a question of good employment practice.

Only after an internal human resources investigation upheld the complaints was her conduct referred to the NEC, as all those involved were Labour party members.

The Labour backbencher John Woodcock was suspended from the party last week over sexual harassment claims, which he denies.

The Barrow MP, a fierce critic of Corbyn, has also questioned the “integrity of the process” that led to the charges against him being made public during a “politically charged time”.