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Labour yesterday suspended one of its MPs over allegations of "inappropriate" behaviour reported to the party.

Kelvin Hopkins had the party whip removed while an investigation takes place into claims about text messages sent to a young woman.

The 76-year-old has tonight "absolutely and categorically" denied allegations of inappropriate conduct made by party activist Ava Etemadzadeh.

The 27-year-old alleges the Luton North MP hugged her tightly and rubbed his crotch against her four years ago.

Ms Etemadzadeh says she informed the whip’s office at the time, and that a local party member contacted the Leader’s office last year to raise concerns about the claims.

Mr Hopkins is alleged to have sent her a message praising her for being “sweet and good natured” before adding that a “nice young man would be lucky to have you as a girlfriend and lover…Were I to be young.”

(Image: Ava Etemadzadeh/Twitter)

She claimed in an interview with the Telegraph: “He hugged me to say goodbye, held me too tight and rubbed his crotch on me, which I found revolting.”

A Labour source said the party had dealt with the allegations that had been brought to them at the time, but that further allegations raised today had resulted in Hopkins suspension.

Labour has since updated its procedures for the reporting and handling of allegations of harassment.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "On the basis of allegations received by the Labour Party today, Kelvin Hopkins has been suspended from party membership, and therefore the Labour whip, while an investigation takes place.

"The Labour Party takes all such complaints extremely seriously and has robust procedures in place to deal with them."

Mr Hopkins was promoted to Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Cabinet in June 2016, after the informal reprimand, before returning to the backbencher in October the same year.

Mr Hopkins, who lives with his wife, is yet to respond to a request for comment.

It comes as Westminster was rocked by several allegations of sexual misbehaviour and assault from both parties.

(Image: Getty)

On Tuesday activist Bex Bailey came forward with the allegation that she had been raped at a party event, but had been urged by a party official not to report it.

Labour launched an investigation into the allegations, to be handled by a qualified person from outside of the party.

The allegations raised by Ms Etemadzadeh will be investigated internally by the party, not by the independent body looking into the Bex Bailey allegations.

Last month Sheffield Hallam MP Jared O'Mara was suspended from Labour over past homophobic and sexist comments.

In the wake of the recent scandal, Labour has insisted the party has “robust processes” to report harassment and is working to improve them.

A spokeswoman said earlier today, before the party named Mr Hopkins: “We ask that anyone with a complaint comes forward so that a proper investigation can be carried out and when evidence of misconduct comes to light, all appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in line with the Party’s rule book and procedures.”

Mr Hopkins joined Parliament in 1997 and is one of just a handful of Brexiteers in the Labour party.

Kelvin Hopkins' 11 point statement in full