KATE Hollern faces a call to consider resignation as an MP after she quit the Labour front bench following allegations made about her in an employment tribunal.

The 66-year-old gave up her job as shadow local government minister after being accused of trying to intimidate a colleague seeking to assist a parliamentary worker who raised allegations of sexual harassment against a former Labour MP.

The Blackburn MP left the role on opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer’s frontbench following the comments which were made in the tribunal hearing against Mike Hill.

Now Cllr John Slater, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Conservative group, has called on her to quit the House of Commons if the claims are true.

The parliamentary worker accuses Mr Hill, the former Hartlepool MP, of carrying out a campaign of sexual harassment and bullying against her over a 16-month period while he was in office.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told the Central London Employment Tribunal on Wednesday that Ms Hollern made ‘malicious’ remarks designed to ‘scare’ him away from helping the woman.

Labour confirmed on Thursday that Mrs Hollern had resigned as shadow minister for local government, but did not comment further.

Cllr Slater linked Mr Bridgen’s claims to the deselection of Labour politician Saima Afzal as councillor for Blackburn Central and her allegations in a farewell speech to the council that she had been dumped as a candidate for her outspoken views on women’s issues.

Mr Bridgen told the tribunal that the woman, known only as Ms A, had confided in him that she was allegedly being 'sexually harassed and sexually assaulted'.

In a written statement, he said he was approached by Ms Hollern in the House of Commons’ terrace, who asked him for a private word away from other MPs.

He wrote that Ms Hollern told him: “Everyone is saying in the Labour Party that you are having an affair with (Ms A) and if I were you I would keep away from her, because you have a wife and baby and you would not want to lose them if it got in the papers.”

He said he responded that 'this is rubbish' and he said he regarded the remarks as 'malicious and designed to scare me away from offering Ms A any help or support'.

Cllr Slater said: “If this is true it is truly outrageous and Mrs Hollern is not fit to hold the office of MP for the wonderful town of Blackburn.

“This comes on top of the bitter resignation speech by former Labour councillor Saima Afzal.

“It seems to be a worrying trend in Blackburn Labour Party.

“Mrs Hollern should resign as a Labour MP if Mr Bridgen’s claims are true.”

Mr Hill denies the allegations against him and the tribunal, due to last a week and a half, continues.

Mrs Hollern, former leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council said that she never intended to undermine support that Ms A was receiving.

She issued a statement saying: “I am absolutely clear that any complaint of sexual harassment should be treated extremely seriously and had this been raised with me I would have taken the necessary action.

“It was never my intention to undermine the support the complainant was receiving, which I was unaware of at the time.

“If that is what Mr Bridgen was led to believe, I apologise for my error in judgement in having the conversation.”

She has declined to comment further.

Mr Afzal said: “I’m afraid I can’t comment on this case as I’m not privy to the ins and outs of this situation. All I can say is I know my own truth and I am continuing to hold out for an independent investigation.”

Cllr Damian Talbot, chairman of Blackburn Labour Party and Mrs Hollern’s constituency secretary, declined to comment.

Mrs Hollern was elected as MP for Blackburn in 2015 succeeding Jack Straw.

She served as Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces from January 2016 to October 2016, and n July 2017 was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Hollern was made shadow minister for local government by new party boss Sir Keir last year.

Mr Hill was suspended from the Labour Party in September 2019 over the allegations, but was reinstated in October of that year to fight the general election.

Mr Hill resigned from his seat in March this year, triggering a by-election that saw his seat taken by the Tories.