Reports suggest Barking and Dagenham Council leader Darren Rodwell is no longer the Labour Party's MP candidate for Barking after sexual harassment allegations emerged. 

The BBC and the Guardian have reported that Mr Rodwell has been removed from the list of election candidates, due to be approved by Labour's National Executive Committee today (June 4). 

This paper contacted London Labour for clarification but a spokesperson said they did not have an update on Mr Rodwell's candidacy and did not know whether he would remain the candidate.

Mr Rodwell's team did not respond to our attempts to contact them.

It comes after The Independent named Mr Rodwell in a report yesterday (June 3) as the subject of a Labour Party investigation into a sexual harassment claim. 

The Independent reported seeing details of the complaint lodged to the Labour Party Complaints Unit last month, alleging he had "inappropriately touched" a woman. 

Mr Rodwell posted a statement on X, formerly Twitter, yesterday in response, and he claimed the story was "unfounded".

He wrote on X: "Allegations regarding my behaviour have been made to the Labour Party Complaints Unit. 

"I utterly refute what is being said, specifically: I have not engaged in sexual harassment of any kind. 

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"I did not indulge in 'inappropriate touching' of an attendee at an event last month.

"It is inconceivable that I would have touched someone's hands, legs, and body inappropriately. 

"I can only imagine that I am a victim of some sort of attempt to prevent me being selected as Labour's parliamentary candidate for Barking.

"I am prepared to fully address this complaint, I am in process of consulting lawyers and I would ask it were expedited so my candidature can proceed."