Leading Labour councillor is quizzed over child grooming.(News)

Byline: Tom Harper and Justin Davenport

A LABOUR councillor with links to two members of the shadow cabinet has been arrested on suspicion of grooming a child for sex.

Scotland Yard detectives questioned John Friary, 51, last week before releasing him on bail pending further inquiries. He has been sacked from his role as a cabinet member for community safety at Southwark council and has resigned as a councillor.

Sources have told the Evening Standard that Peter John, leader of the Southwark Labour Party, told councillors the alleged incident involved an underage girl and "child grooming offences".

Mr Friary, who is the governor of a Camberwell primary school and has campaigned with Harriet Harman and Tessa Jowell -- both south London MPs and members of the shadow cabinet -- is alleged to have made contact with the child over the internet. He held several accounts on social networking sites including Facebook and Bebo, which have been taken down.

A source said: "This is absolutely shocking. No one in Southwark can believe it. Friary was a leading light in the local Labour Party -- he is incredibly close to Harman and Jowell and was often seen out on the doorsteps helping them get elected."

Today a link from the official website of Ms Harman, deputy leader of Labour and shadow secretary of state for international development, to Friary's blog was removed.

A police spokesman said: "On 26 January a 51-year-old man was arrested by officers from the paedophile unit on suspicion of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was taken to a west London police station and bailed to return in March pending further inquiries." Southwark council leader Mr John said: "As soon as I became aware of a police investigation, I immediately removed John Friary from his Cabinet position.

"The next day he resigned as councillor which was the right thing to do. The council is complying with all safeguarding procedures which need to be followed in situations such as these."

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Campaign trail: John Friary, who has been arrested, with Harriet Harman