Labour MP Ivan Lewis has been put under formal investigation following a complaint about his conduct, but the former minister has not been suspended by the party.
A party spokesman refused to discuss details of the allegation on Wednesday but said any complaint of sexual harassment was treated extremely seriously.
“The Labour party takes all allegations of sexual harassment extremely seriously and all complaints are investigated in line with our robust procedures,” they said. “Ivan Lewis is currently under investigation following the receipt of a complaint.”
Earlier this month the Bury South MP said in a statement he was sorry if his behaviour towards women he worked with had made anyone feel “awkward” but denied making any “non-consensual sexual comments or sexual advances”.
He denied making non-consensual sexual advances towards women after one woman alleged he touched her leg and invited her to his house during a Labour party event in 2010 when she was 19.
It is understood that Lewis, 50, has not been suspended by the party and continues to take the Labour whip.
Lewis was first elected to parliament in 1997 and served under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as minister for state for care services, international development and foreign and commonwealth affairs.
Lewis also held roles in opposition under Ed Miliband as shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport, and Northern Ireland.
