FORMER Hartlepool MP Mike Hill is still under investigation over sexual harassment claims, The Northern Echo has learned.

Despite the ongoing investigation, by police as well as Parliamentary standards, Mr Hill, who has ‘completely rejected’ the allegations, has had the Labour whip restored by the party and has also been re-selected as candidate for Hartlepool.

He released a statement at the end of last month saying he had been reinstated, after Labour said the allegation had been withdrawn.

But the woman who has accused him of harassing her, and who made a complaint both to Labour and to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Process (ICGS), said she had only asked the party to ‘park’ the complaint, which centred around alleged 'inappropriate behaviour and victimisation'.

Solicitors acting on her behalf from law firm Farore Law said: “Our client made a complaint to the Labour Party specialist sexual misconduct unit, but the manner of their handling it, including the failure to advise our client of key steps, caused our client to ask the Labour Party to park the complaint until the ICGS had completed its investigation.

“Instead of doing so it treated the complaint as if withdrawn and lifted the suspension of Mike Hill without advising our client. Mike Hill then released a story implying his exoneration, or that the matter was over. It is far from over.”

They said the ‘confidential complaint’ had also been leaked to the press in October, which they described as ‘a gross breach of her privacy’. She has asked the Labour Party to investigate the leak.

Mr Hill, who is married, has been the MP for Hartlepool since 2017, until Parliament was suspended this week ahead of the General Election. The 56-year-old has previously said the allegations had caused a “very difficult time” for his family, friends and constituency staff.

The Labour Party, and Mr Hill, declined to comment when approached yesterday.