Labour women have accused a key ally of Jeremy Corbyn of “intimidating” a senior female member after an argument at a party meeting.
MP Lucy Powell criticised Andy Kerr, head of Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, for “unacceptable behaviour”, and urged the party to call-out male “power play”.
The row erupted in Leeds as members gathered to choose the next chair of the National Policy Forum.
While NPF vice-chair Katrina Murray was trying to orchestrate a vote, Communication Workers Union deputy general Mr Kerr walked onto the stage, took her place at the microphone and started addressing the meeting, to shouts of “shame” from the audience.
He said: “We are not electing the NPF chair today under any circumstances.”
Ms Powell, MP for Manchester Central, told the BBC Westminster Hour programme: “Many of us, especially many women in the room, felt that was unacceptable behaviour that was very intimidatory. And he might not understand that it was, but when you’re 6ft 5in, and you are a man in a position of power and you march over towards somebody and you demand to take over chairing a meeting, that is intimidatory.”
While some wanted to hold the vote for a new chair immediately, Mr Kerr said National Executive Committee rules meant that there should be a seven-day wait. Veteran activist Ann Black was set to take the seat and beat union representative Andi Fox, who was backed by Labour’s Left.
Ms Powell, who quit Mr Corbyn’s front bench in 2016, said: “In the context of all the #MeToo and everything else that we’ve seen over the last few months, it’s that kind of power play that really some men need to appreciate.
“We do need to call this out when it happens and it was happening [on Saturday], and it needs to stop.”
Ms Murray later tweeted a picture of her and Mr Kerr from the event smiling, with the message: “Thanks to everyone with their good wishes but honestly, as you can see — as a trade union woman — I can deal with it.”
A Communication Workers Union spokesperson said: “We totally refute any allegations of intimidatory behaviour. Andy’s track record and reputation within the movement speaks for itself.
“He was simply upholding the decision of the NEC officers and the Labour Party rulebook.”
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