Simon Danczuk suspended from the Labour Party

Simon Danczuk

Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has been suspended from the Labour Party.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "The general secretary of the Labour Party has today suspended Simon Danczuk's membership of the party, pending an investigation into allegations published in the media today.

"A full investigation will now take place under the authority of the National Executive Committee, which will be responsible for determining any further action."

The Sun has published details of sex messages the 49-year-old Labour MP sent  to 17-year-old Sophena Houlihan after she asked him for a job.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/100146/simon-danczuk-sent-sex-messages-to-17yearold-local-girl-who-asked-him-for-a-job

Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, speaking on a visit to see flood damage in York, said: “Simon has had his membership of the party suspended. He will now be investigated by the national executive.

“The decision was made this morning. The reasons are his conduct, which will now be investigated. I don’t want to say any more than that because I don’t want to prejudice the independent investigation. It is today’s incident, nothing else.”

Mr Danczuk has said: "My behaviour was inappropriate and I apologise to everyone I've let down. I was stupid and there's no fool like an old fool."

Mr Danczuk claims the story in The Sun is not "entirely accurate" but says this is "an extremely low point in my life".

Former Rochdale Council leader, Councillor Colin Lambert, was unsympathetic, he said of his Labour Party colleague: "Simon Danczuk has abused his status as an MP for far too long, the man is a disgrace to politics and to Rochdale, this suspension is long overdue."