Geraint Davies has said he does not recognise the allegations
By Teleri Glyn Jones
BBC Wales News
Three female MPs have said they were warned about Geraint Davies in their first weeks in Westminster.
They were told by other MPs to “watch out” for him, they say.
The Swansea West MP was suspended by the Labour Party following reports by the Politico news website of “completely unacceptable behaviour”.
He is accused of subjecting younger female colleagues to unwanted sexual attention, but said he does not recognise the allegations.
The three MPs who spoke to BBC Wales included two from the Labour Party and one Conservative.
One new Labour MP claimed she was subject to lewd comments and inappropriate touching.
“He was always lewd and yuck in terms of his behaviour, it was just his MO [modus operandi],” she said.
“It was never sinister, just inappropriate. He’d make lewd comments or touch your arm when you were next to him in the voting lobby. It just made you feel uncomfortable.
“If you saw him in the tea room, you would avoid sitting on his table and pray he wouldn’t come and sit with you.”
She added: “When I first became an MP, he was one of the ones you’d be warned about. Several people sat me down and told me to watch out for him.
“It’s about time this came to light.”
Image source, Getty Images
The Swansea West MP has said he does not recognise the allegations
A second female Labour MP told BBC Wales that she was also advised by fellow MPs to avoid Mr Davies.
The second MP had not experienced or witnessed any inappropriate behaviour herself, and therefore did not raise the issue with the party.
She believes the party needed to reassess its procedures.
“The Labour Party have a new complaints process, but we now need to question if it’s working. There needs to be a review of that process to see whether it’s working and if it’s robust enough,” she said.
“Why do we need to put the onus on young women to come forward and to make an official complaint before action is taken?
“There is now a lot of talk amongst female MPs on how we change the culture in Westminster because enough is enough.”
A Conservative female MP has revealed she was also warned about Mr Davies when she first went to Westminster.
She said: “During the day, he is dismissive and rude to you. But when he has a drink – and you go to speak to him – his eyes light up in the creepiest way”.
Mr Davies has been approached for comment but has not responded.
However, in response to earlier claims, he told Politico he did not recognise the allegations.
“If I have inadvertently caused offence to anyone, then I am naturally sorry as it is important that we share an environment of mutual and equal respect for all,” he said.
First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford said his party has “acted swiftly” to suspend Mr Davies.
On a visit to Edinburgh, Mr Drakeford told the BBC the accusations against Mr Davies are “very serious” and “need to be taken seriously”.
Originally Labour said it had not received a formal complaint, but the BBC now understands that one has been made.
Complaints process review
It’s understood that following an overhaul of its complaints procedures, the Labour Party introduced a new process last year which it believes is robust, and is one that complainants can have confidence in.
A Labour spokesperson has previously said: “These are incredibly serious allegations of completely unacceptable behaviour.
“We strongly encourage anyone with a complaint to come forward to the Labour Party’s investigation.
“Any complainant will have access to an independent support service who provide confidential and independent guidance and advice from external experts throughout the process.”
Labour general secretary David Evans said a review has been launched into the complaints process following previous incidents, including an aide receiving a warning after allegedly groping a junior staff member.
In an email sent on Thursday, he said: “Since the stories two weeks ago, it has been my urgent focus that we review the formal processes through which our colleagues can report such behaviour, how we work together with independent complaints bodies to ensure rigorous outcomes and protection for staff while investigations are ongoing, and how we can create a culture in which colleagues feel safe and encouraged to make a complaint if they need to.
“I have been working together with a taskforce of the party’s senior leadership team to move this review forward as quickly as possible.”
