On International Women’s Day (8 March) 2013, Steve Hedley, Assistant General Secretary of the RMT trade union, was accused of physical, verbal and emotional abuse in a public statement by his former partner, then RMT activist Caroline Leneghan. Caroline says that in 2012 he carried out a severe physical assault on her. You can read her initial statement and see pictures of her injuries here (content warning).

About two months previously Caroline had made formal complaints to the police and the RMT. The union carried out an investigation and, by the end of March, decided to take no further action against Hedley. So why are many on the left still complaining about what happened? This note attempts to explain. It also looks at the role of the Socialist Party, which Hedley was a member of until he resigned shortly after Caroline published her initial statement.

We believe this case should be treated as seriously as the SWP’s “Comrade Delta”/Martin Smith affair.

For the full briefing see the link to the Women's Fightback blog.