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Sandwell Council 'lewd messages' investigation: We take claims extremely seriously, says MP

Tom Watson has insisted claims that a Sandwell councillor made lewd remarks about two of his female colleagues were being taken ‘extremely seriously’ by the Labour party.

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Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson

The West Bromwich East MP has spoken publicly for the first time over claims that Sandwell Council’s leisure boss Richard Marshall posted degrading comments about councillors Maria Crompton and Olwen Jones on social media.

His intervention comes as it emerged that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had been presented with a dossier relating to the case at a meeting of West Midlands MPs in Westminster earlier this week.

He is understood to have told MPs that he will look into the allegations.

Labour’s deputy leader Mr Watson insisted that the claims would be treated seriously by the party, but said the investigation would not be rushed and that it would ‘take time’ to come to a conclusion.

Labour has confirmed that a lead investigator had been appointed to oversee the case, following a complaint by West Bromwich West MP Adrian Bailey on behalf of Councillor Crompton, who works in his Sandwell office.

Addressing the issue, Mr Watson said: “A serious allegation has been made against a senior Labour councillor.

“It takes time to establish the facts and come to a conclusion. The allegations regarding the language used are extremely serious and will be treated as such by the Labour party’s team of investigators.”

Mr Marshall is alleged to have made sexually degrading comments about Mrs Crompton and Mrs Jones in a WhatsApp chat with a member of the public.

He has not been suspended by the Labour Party.

Tividale councillor Mrs Crompton said she wanted to see the investigation concluded as quickly as possible.

“I can’t believe that this investigation can possibly take a long time to complete,” she said.

"I have sent in all the required evidence. They can interview everyone involved whenever they like. While all this is going on he [Mr Marshall] is still on the council.”

Government Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has agreed to meet with Mr Bailey in the coming weeks to discuss the alleged abuse.

Mr Marshall declined to comment.

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