Labour MP due in court over harassment charge
A Labour MP is to appear in court after being charged with harassment, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.
Claudia Webbe, who won the seat of Leicester East in last December's election, is accused of one count of harassment against a female sometime between September 2018 and April this year.
The 55-year-old, who is on the left of the Labour Party and was a staunch supporter of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, took over the Leicester East constituency from Keith Vaz, who stepped down after becoming embroiled in a scandal.
Few details about the allegations against Ms Webbe were released but the CPS said a decision to charge the MP had been taken after a file was passed to prosecutors by the Metropolitan Police.
Following the announcement that she had been charged, Ms Webbe issued a brief statement insisting she was innocent of any wrongdoing and stressing that she would defend herself vigorously against the allegations.
It is understood she has been suspended from the Labour Party and has the whip withdrawn pending the outcome of the case.
Jenny Hopkins, from the CPS, said: "The CPS has today decided that Claudia Webbe, MP for Leicester East, should be charged with an offence of harassment against one female. The CPS made the decision after receiving a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police.
"Criminal proceedings against Ms Webbe are now active and she has the right to a fair trial.
"It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings."
Ms Webbe is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 11, to face one charge of harassment, an offence that carries a maximum six month prison sentence.
In a statement, the MP said: "I am innocent of any wrongdoing and look forward to proving this in court. I will be vigorously defending myself against these claims."
Before becoming an MP, Ms Webbe was a councillor in Islington, north London and she was also a member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee.
She was also previously a political advisor to the former London mayor, Ken Livingstone.
