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Labour is allowing a suspended MP accused of sexually harassing a young woman activist to quiz her over her claims.

Student Ava Etemadzadeh says she was left upset after finding out Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins, 76, had been given permission to submit written questions to her as part of a Labour Party investigation.

The 27-year-old has accused him of rubbing his crotch against her during an embrace at a political event in 2014, and sending her inappropriate texts.

Labour MP Kerry McCarthy has also claimed she suffered unwanted attention from Mr Hopkins spanning 20 years.

Mr Hopkins denies the claims and has said he is looking forward to clearing his name at the hearing of Labour’s National Constitutional Committee.

Ms Etemadzadeh said: “It will remind me of the things I went through. I would not feel comfortable.

"This system written on the back of a fag packet when I made my complaint, being interpreted entirely in Kelvin Hopkins’ favour, is totally not fit for purpose.”

She learned of the arrangement for the hearing from emails sent to her by Labour’s investigating officer.

One said: “The complainants will not be in the same room but there will be an opportunity for Kelvin to put questions to the complainants.”

Ms Etemadzadeh said: “I just don’t feel comfortable to be asked questions by Kelvin. I thought I’d be giving evidence about the case on different dates.”

Labour guidelines on sex harassment hearings stipulate that the complainant and defendant should not meet face to face.

Labour said Ms Etemadzadeh will not be directly questioned by Mr Hopkins: “The process does not allow respondents to respond directly to complainants. The party takes all complaints of harassment extremely seriously.”

Party whips initially suspended Mr Hopkins over a text he sent to Ms Etemadzadeh in February 2015, which said: “A nice young man would be lucky to have you as a girlfriend and lover. I am sure one such is soon to be found. Were I to be young … but I am not.”

Mr Hopkins said in January: “I am happy to go to the NCC to clear my name”.