LABOUR MP Joe Ashton refused to quit over allegations he was caught in a police raid on a brothel. The veteran backbencher told friends he will not stand down and was been given full backing by party activists. The revelations were a fresh embarrassment at the time to Tony Blair who had warned MPs against disgracing the Government.
Ashton, 65 at the time, was found inside the Thai Siam massage parlour during a mid-afternoon raid by police and immigration officers. The married MP refused to co-operate with police but was said to have been identified by checks on his car number plate. He was not committing a criminal offence.
The Nottingham massage parlour, which offers sexual services from Thai girls, was raided on suspicion that some women were illegal immigrants. Seven were later deported.
His constituency agent Sally Jackson insisted his job as MP for Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, was not in danger. She said "Joe has a solicitor and his advice is to make no comment." adding "There is no constituency Labour Party meeting until next week. But from comments from local party members Joe has 101 per cent support. There is no question of his political career being threatened."
Ashton, a former engineering worker first elected in 1968, is expected to travel to London today for further talks with his lawyers. Labour officials tried desperately to play down the incident. A spokesman said there were no plans to reprimand the MP. He said "It is a matter for Joe Ashton, his legal representatives and police. It is the view of the police he has not broken the law. The Labour Party has no comment to make."
Officials failed at their first attempt to contact Ashton when the news broke on Saturday but later contacted his lawyers.
Blair was kept informed of developments during a weekend stay at his Chequers country home. He had warned MPs over any embarrassing behaviour after years of Labour attacking Tory sleaze. But the incident is the latest in a string of scandals within the Labour Party. Seven other Labour MPs' marriages have ended since the election - a number because of affairs.
Foreign Secretary Robin Cook dumped his wife Margaret when his affair with his secretary Gaynor Regan was revealed. He had to suffer humiliating details of his numerous affairs being revealed in his ex-wife's book. Ron Davies quit as Welsh Secretary after a "serious error of judgment" on Clapham Common.
Police confirmed a man had been found at the parlour. A spokesman said "He was not committing any criminal offence. He had declined to assist the police as a witness, which he is entitled to do." "In these circumstances it is inappropriate for the police to comment further."
Three other men are believed to have been arrested and released on police bail.
Local Brian Andrews, 50, said "When you look closely it's obvious what going on. You see men entering and leaving. They are mostly middle-aged business types in suits."