Dudley councillor suspended by party over sexual harassment allegation

Labour confirmed Upper Gornal and Woodsetton Councillor Adrian Hughes has been suspended from the party due to the accusations.

The councillor was until recently a member of two key children's services committees on Dudley Council.

It comes after a young woman made an official complaint to the Labour Party in May this year.

The party's sexual harassment team told Councillor Hughes he has a case to answer and is suspended pending a full investigation.

The 33-year-old was sitting on the Dudley Council Children's Services Select Committee until September 22, and Dudley Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee until September 17.

The party notified Councillor Hughes he was suspended on Wednesday pending a full investigation.

In a letter the sexual harassment team said: "We are writing in relation to a complaint of sexual harassment made against you. A report in relation to your case was recently presented to a Sexual Harassment Panel of the National Executive Committee whose purpose was to review the investigation and decide if there was a case to answer based on the evidence available.

"That NEC Sexual Harassment Panel has reviewed your case and considered that there was a case to answer. Accordingly, it has referred the case to the Independent Complaints Board (the ICB), in line with the Labour Party’s sexual harassment procedure.

"The case will now be referred to the Board Secretary for the ICB and a full case file prepared. This may take some time. Once the case file is ready, the Board Secretary will be in contact with you to discuss the next steps and outline any further actions you may need to take."

Councillor Hughes moved away from the Black Country in the summer and now lives in Preston.

When asked to comment about his suspension from the party Councillor Hughes told the Express & Star: "I do not want to comment about this matter. It is an internal party matter and I cannot say anything."