MP appears to accuse colleague of using grope claims to 'sell books'

Labour MP Barry Sheerman deletes tweet and apologises for ‘diminishing victims’ after appearing to accuse Labour colleague Sir Chris Bryant of revealing groping claims to ‘sell books’

• The long-serving Huddersfield MP insists he didn’t intend to ‘diminish victims’

Labour MP Barry Sheerman today deleted a Twitter post after he appeared to accuse a party colleague of using groping claims to ‘sell books’.

The long-serving Huddersfield MP insisted he didn’t intend to ‘diminish victims’ experiences’ with his comments about fellow Labour backbencher Sir Chris Bryant.

Mr Sheerman had been accused of making ‘reprehensible’ and ‘revolting’ remarks amid calls for him to lose the Labour whip.

Sir Chris this week revealed he’s been groped by five MPs during his 22-year spell in Parliament.

In a new book, titled Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament — and How to Do it, Sir Chris claimed that five male MPs had ‘felt my bottom uninvited’.

Earlier this morning, in a now-deleted tweet, Mr Sheerman had written on Twitter: ‘I understand our colleague Chris Bryant is very keen to sell copies of his book.’

But, following an outrage at his post, the 82-year-old this afternoon tweeted: ‘Deleted an earlier tweet I worded poorly, it wasn’t my intention to diminish victims’ experiences.’

Labour MP Barry Sheerman deleted a Twitter post after he appeared to accuse a party colleague of using groping claims to ‘sell books’

Earlier this morning, in a now-deleted tweet, Mr Sheerman had written on Twitter: ‘I understand our colleague Chris Bryant is very keen to sell copies of his book.’

The long-serving Huddersfield MP later insisted he didn’t intend to ‘diminish victims’ experiences’ with his comments about his fellow Labour backbencher

In a new book, titled Code of Conduct: Why We Need to Fix Parliament — and How to Do it, Sir Chris claimed that five male MPs had ‘felt my bottom uninvited’

In response to Mr Sheerman’s initial tweet, other users of the social media site had called for him to be stripped of the Labour whip.

One Labour member posted: ‘What a disgusting comment. I urge Sheerman to apologise and if he refuses then I hope the party removes the whip from him.’

Another Labour supporter told Mr Sheerman: ‘Seriously, that’s your response to a colleague being sexually assaulted at work? Shame on you.’

Sir Chris, who is openly gay and married, had revealed his experience of harassment in Parliament in extracts published by the i newspaper.

‘Over the years five male MPs have felt my bottom uninvited. One of them, who was not out, did so repeatedly,’ he wrote.

‘Another, who is still in the House and still does not accept that he is gay, pushed me against a wall and felt my crotch.

‘Another rubbed himself behind me in the queue to vote and was later snogging two men in the Strangers’ Bar.

‘I know other gay MPs and staff who have faced the same.’

The 61-year-old today said he was ‘grateful’ that Mr Sheerman had deleted his tweet about him. 

He told MailOnline: ‘I’m grateful Barry has taken it down.

‘One of the many reasons people fail to report sexual harassment is a fear of being blamed, discredited or ostracised.

‘We need to change those attitudes in parliament and the wider public so every workplace is a safe one.’

MailOnline has contacted Mr Sheerman’s office for further comment.

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