Jeremy Corbyn's office rejects Shadow Cabinet member's bullying allegations
2 min read
Jeremy Corbyn's office is strenuously denying claims by Debbie Abrahams that she was bullied by "certain individuals" working there, PoliticsHome has learned.
Ms Abrahams made the allegation after being forced to step aside as Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary following accusations that she bullied members of her staff.
The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, who denies the allegations against her, said staff working for Mr Corbyn had been "aggressive, intimidating and wholly unprofessional" towards her over the past 10 months.
She said: "My treatment in the last week has shown a bullying culture of the worst kind. As such I am making a formal complaint to both the Labour party and parliamentary authorities."
Ms Abrahams also said that she had been made to stand down from her frontbench role against her will, and had not been made aware of the allegations against her.
But PoliticsHome has been told that the Labour leader's office is rejecting Ms Abrahams' claims.
It is also understood that the MP has now been given details about the allegations against her, which are being investigated by party bosses.
She has been replaced in her post by junior Labour frontbencher Margaret Greenwood.
The row follows a series of allegations of bullying against MPs, including Commons Speaker John Bercow.
Speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Dundee on Friday, Mr Corbyn said: "The culture of bullying is totally wrong in any workplace or any environment’ the Labour leader told reporters at Scottish Labour’s conference in Dundee.
"It’s nasty, it’s horrible to the individual victim concerned. It's an abuse of power by the manager or employer."
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