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A Labour backbencher known as an arch-critic of Jeremy Corbyn is facing claims he ­sexually harassed a female aide.

John Woodcock will be the subject of a hearing before the party’s National Constitutional Committee later this year.

It is alleged the MP sent inappropriate texts and emails to a former staffer during the two years she worked for the party.

And it is said the woman felt uncomfortable and left her job. She claims that Mr Woodcock continued to contact her even after she had quit, sending regular messages and emails.

Mr Woodcock, 39, last night refused to discuss the ­allegations, said to date from 2014 to 2016.

Last November Labour’s National Executive Committee agreed the woman’s complaint met the necessary threshold to refer the case to the constitutional committee.

The case follows a series of Westminster sex scandals.

A dossier of alleged offenders compiled by Parliamentary staff – minus the names – was leaked. As the scandal developed it ended the careers of leading cabinet ministers Michael Fallon and Damian Green.

A source said Mr Woodcock plans to contest the claims.

He has previously said he could not vote to make Labour leader Mr Corbyn Prime Minister because of his stance on scrapping the Trident nuclear missile.

Building Trident submarines provides many jobs for the MP’s constituency of Barrow and Furness, Cumbria.

Mr Woodcock split from his wife Mandy Telford in 2014 and they were divorced the following year.

(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

He worked on fellow MP Liz Kendall’s leadership campaign during 2015. During the race, a number of claims – all denied – emerged that the two were in a relationship.

Mr Woodcock said at the time the allegation was “not true, has never been true and would never be true”.

He blamed a smear campaign and vowed legal action against those behind the rumours.

Mr Woodcock is currently in a relationship with political journalist Isabel Hardman.

She complained in 2016 when she was described as “totty” by an MP later identified as Colonel Bob Stewart.

Col Stewart later apologised for what Ms Hardman, whose new book is called Why We Get the Wrong Politicians, had called a “sexist” term.

In his early career, Mr ­Woodcock worked on the 2005 ­election campaign.

(Image: Getty)

He was elected to the seat of Barrow and Furness with a majority of more than 5,000.

Later, Mr Woodcock became a special adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

In December 2013, Mr ­Woodcock said he was being treated for depression.

In May 2015 he was made Shadow Minister for Young People.

He quit his post in September the following year after Opposition Leader Mr Corbyn was elected by the party.

Last year Mr Woodcock was re-elected with a majority of just 209 votes.

In a statement, Mr Woodcock said: “In the light of newspaper stories today, I want to make the following clear to my constituents.

“I was made aware in December last year that a complaint made against me was being referred to Labour’s national constitutional committee as a potential breach of the party’s policy on sexual harassment.

“I do not accept the charge but know the complaint must be thoroughly and fairly investigated.

“I have not yet been notified of any date for a hearing and was following the party’s guidance that the process should remain confidential to reassure potential victims that they could make complaints without being exposed to unwelcome publicity.

“Therefore I do not intend to discuss details of the issue ahead of any hearing.”