UK MP Simon Danczuk blames drink problem for lewd texts to teenager

British politician Simon Danczuk claimed a “drink problem” led him to send sexually explicit messages to a teenage girl as he faced further lurid revelations about his private life.

The 49-year-old MP added he felt “awful” about lewd texts he sent to Sophena Houlihan when she was 17.

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

The Rochdale MP also threatened legal action against his first wife, Sonia Rossington, after she made a series of claims about his conduct, calling him a “sexual predator who made my life hell” and revealing details of his drink and drug consumption.

The text messages to Ms Houlihan followed the collapse of his marriage to second wife Karen, who was dubbed the selfie queen after posting numerous photographs of herself in low-cut tops.

The MP for Rochdale told The Sun he felt “lonely” and was “drunk” while on holiday in Spain when he sent the texts.

He said: “I have a drink problem, and that is a major contributory reason why I sent the messages.

“I’ve seen a psychiatrist about it and he’s told me to stop drinking for six months.

“I feel awful about what happened. I don’t know what came over me. I’m so embarrassed that I’ve been such an idiot. I’m sorry for letting my family down and I’m already dreading my young sons finding out when they are older.

The father of five added that “younger women are my Achilles heel” but said he knew sending the messages was “wrong” and his behaviour had “played on his mind”.

Ms Houlihan, who is now 18, said Mr Danczuk sent her numerous messages, including one asking if she wanted a “spanking” after she contacted him about a job.

The pair exchanged messages for nearly a month before he asked how old she was, according to the newspaper. He said, at first, he considered it a “professional conversation”.

Mr Danczuk’s tangled love life has repeatedly made the headlines over the past year, including the ending of a relationship with a Labour councillor, Claire Hamilton, who tweeted after Christmas that she had “dumped” him.