The Dispatch understands a female MP accused the Enfield Southgate representative of sexually assaulting her two years ago, reports James Cracknell

Bambos Charalambous has been suspended by the Labour Party (inset credit parliament.uk)

The suspension of Enfield Southgate MP Bambos Charalambous followed a complaint from a Labour Party colleague that he had sexually assaulted her, the Dispatch understands.

Charalambous had the Labour whip removed by party bosses last week, but it was only reported at the time that there had been a formal complaint made over his conduct, with no further details.

Labour sources have since linked Charalambous to national media reports from May when it was reported – initially by website Tortoise but also outlets including The Guardian and the BBC – that “a female Labour MP claimed she had been sexually assaulted by a male shadow minister”.

Charalambous had been serving in leader Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet until he stepped down from the role on Friday (9^th) at the time of his suspension.

The Dispatch has contacted both Charalambous and the Labour Party regarding the link between the national media stories from May and last week’s suspension of the Enfield Southgate MP. Neither has denied the connection.

The alleged incident was reported to have taken place after a summer party in London nearly two years ago. The national media reports stated the female MP made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police as well as Labour whips in March this year, but the Met stated in May that “at the victim’s request the incident will not now be investigated at this time”.

However, the Dispatch understands that the incident was subsequently reported via the Labour Party’s official complaints process last week, leading to the suspension of Charalambous within 24 hours. An investigation is now underway.

A suspension of Labour Party membership and removal of the whip carries no presumption of guilt.

Charalambous said in his statement on Friday that it was “right and proper” that the investigation “is allowed to take place” and that he would “co-operate fully”. He has not commented further in response to this story.

The Enfield Southgate MP was first elected to the House of Commons at the 2017 General Election, defeating former Conservative MP David Burrowes. He won again in 2019 with a slightly reduced vote share, and was appointed as a shadow minister shortly afterwards.

Charalambous is also a former councillor, having represented Palmers Green at Enfield Civic Centre for 24 years.

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