Police confirm MP Simon Danczuk faces historical rape allegation

By The Press Association5th January 2016News EnglandNews England, Non-Recent / Historic Abuse, Rape

Labour MP Simon Danczuk is facing a police probe after being accused of a historical rape.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We can confirm that we have received a report of a historic rape dating back to 2006.

“We are in the very early stages of an investigation and inquiries are ongoing. The complaint relates to a 49-year-old man.”

Responding to the claims, the MP for Rochdale said: “These claims are malicious, untrue and extremely upsetting.

“The police have not been in touch with me but I will co-operate fully with any inquiries and am confident my name will be promptly cleared.”

The claims come as embattled Mr Danczuk faces criticism over lewd texts he sent to Sophena Houlihan when she was 17. He blamed a “drink problem” for the sexually explicit messages

He has been suspended from the Labour Party while an investigation takes place into his conduct, for which he has apologised “unreservedly”.

The father-of-five’s personal life has repeatedly made the headlines over the past year following the collapse of his marriage to wife Karen, who was dubbed the selfie queen after posting numerous photographs of herself in low-cut tops.

Mr Danczuk said there was nothing wrong with an MP being paid to tip off a photo agency about opportunities to take photographs of them that could be sold to the media – after he received at least £1,115 from one.

The most recent Register of Members’ Interests shows he received that sum from Fameflynet Ltd for approximately six hours of “media advice”

He told BBC2’s Newsnight he provided “ideas about what they might and might not do”.

He said: “That’s my choice if I want to do that type of work and I don’t make any apologies for it. It provides an insight, it provides some transparency in terms of my life.

“Of course I receive payment for that and I declare it properly.”