Under-fire Labour MP Simon Danczuk faces historical rape allegation

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.”

Earlier the embattled British politician dismissed suggestions he is not fit to remain as an MP, after a wave of criticism over lewd texts he sent to a teenage girl.

The 49-year-old Rochdale MP has blamed a “drink problem” for the explicit messages 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”.

Emerging from his constituency office, where protesters had gathered, Mr Danczuk insisted that allegations by ex-partners about his behaviour were irrelevant.