MP Ivan Lewis has denied claims that he sexually harassed a teenage girl.

But he has apologised for behaviour which may have made female colleagues feel uncomfortable or ‘awkward’.

The former Labour Foreign Office minister denied he had made non-consensual sexual advances toward women.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

His denial came after a woman alleged to BuzzFeed News that Mr Lewis touched her leg and invited her to his house when she was 19, and at a Labour Party event in 2010.

In a statement issued through his lawyers to the website the Bury South MP said he had “good professional relationships and enduring friendships with virtually all my female colleagues.”

He said he had “never made non-consensual sexual comments or sexual advances to women”.

He added: “However, I understand that a few women have claimed that my behaviour made them feel uncomfortable.

“I have on occasion asked women I work with out for drinks or dinner, or developed strong feelings for them, and I am genuinely sorry if this was unwelcome or inappropriate in the circumstances, and caused anyone to feel awkward.”

An unnamed woman alleged to BuzzFeed News that Mr Lewis repeatedly stroked her leg at a constituency fundraiser. She claimed he then asked her to go back to his house.

Mr Lewis denies the claims.

The MP previously acted as International Development minister under Gordon Brown.

Mr Lewis is one of a string of MPs who have denied allegations of inappropriate conduct as sexual harassment claims continue to swirl around Westminster.

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has had the Conservative whip suspended following serious allegations that have been referred to the police, Tory chief whip Julian Smith said.

Mr Elphicke has represented the south coast seat since 2010 and is a member of the Commons Treasury Select Committee.

Mr Smith was made chief whip on Thursday in a mini-reshuffle carried out by Prime Minister Theresa May.

Norwich South MP Clive Lewis denied a claim that he groped a woman at the Labour conference in September after it emerged the party was investigating a formal complaint against him.

The MP is alleged by the woman to have hugged her and given her backside "a big squeeze" at a conference event, the Independent reported.

But the former shadow cabinet member told the BBC: "I don't as a rule at packed Labour party conferences grope people's bottoms when I greet them. It's just not how I roll, it's not what I do.

"Is the person mistaken? Have I given them a hug and this has been misinterpreted? I don't know.

"All I know is that I would not deliberately do that, do what's alleged. I completely deny that."

After a spate of sexual harassment claims hit political parties in recent weeks, Prime Minister Theresa May released a new code of conduct for Conservative representatives.

It followed her former defence secretary, Sir Michael Fallon resigning after admitting his behaviour had "fallen below the high standards required".

Sir Michael's shock announcement came after it emerged he had repeatedly put his hand on a journalist's knee at a dinner in 2002.

Labour MP Clive Lewis denies party conference groping allegation

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Writing in the Telegraph about the incident, Julia Hartley-Brewer said: "Since his resignation, I have exchanged messages with Sir Michael in which he made it abundantly clear that he does not blame me for his resignation."

Labour said it would appoint an independent specialist organisation to offer support and advice to anyone affected by sexual harassment in the party.

Suspended Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins said he "categorically" denied allegations of inappropriate conduct made by party activist Ava Etemadzadeh.

Labour is investigating Ms Etemadzadeh's claims that the MP sent her suggestive texts and acted inappropriately.

In a statement issued by his solicitors, Mr Hopkins denied allegations he was inappropriate towards Ms Etemadzadeh following a Labour student event.

The MP said: "I absolutely and categorically deny that I in any way engaged in any such inappropriate conduct. I simply put an arm around her shoulder to give her a brief, slight hug just before getting in to my car.

"I did not hold her tight. I did not rub any part of my body, let alone my crotch, against Ava."

Mr Hopkins claims that Ms Etemadzadeh sent him a text later that evening thanking him for attending the event.

Referring to claims made by Ms Etemadzadeh after a meeting with the MP in the Commons, Mr Hopkins said: "It is reported in the press that at that meeting I asked questions about her personal life and that I made her uncomfortable with a suggestion that I would have liked to take her to my office if it were empty.

"I have no recollection whatsoever of such conversations."

The MP claims that Ms Etemadzadeh sent him a text after that meeting saying: "Thank you, Kelvin for today. It was lovely meeting you! :-) xx"

Mr Hopkins has confirmed he did send Ms Etemadzadeh a text which referred to her as "charming and sweet-natured" and stated "a nice young man would be lucky to have you as a girlfriend and lover... Were I to be young... but I am not..."

The MP claims Ms Etemadzadeh sent him a text saying: "Oh thank you Kelvin for such kind words."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has come under fire for promoting Mr Hopkins to the shadow cabinet last year after the allegations against him first surfaced.