Simon Danczuk refuses to help with the cost of his son's university accommodation

Photo: Journeaux

Simon Danczuk

Rochdale MP Simon Dancuk has refused to help pay towards the cost of his son's university accommodation. George Danczuk, 18, is due to start at Sheffield University next week and his mother, Mr Danczuk's first wife, Sonia Rossington, asked Mr Danczuk to contribute towards the cost of George's accommodation - she explained that she will find it very difficult to fund the £5,300 accommodation fees without Mr Danczuk's support.

Mrs Rossington said: "I asked Simon to contribute towards the cost of George's accommodation but he refused. He told me to take it out of the child support he gives me, however, that barely covers half the mortgage he left me to pay when he deserted me and the kids to continue his affair [with his estranged second wife, Karen Danczuk], never mind feed and clothe two teenagers, run a home and help George with his university living costs."

George also contacted his father and asked for his help; Mr Danczuk responded by asking George why he has waited this long to contact him and refusing to help citing a lack of money as his reason.

Mr Danczuk's salary as an MP is £74,000 per year and he has declared additional earnings from outside interests of over £33,000 so far this year.

A furious Mrs Rossington said: "It is not the responsibility of the child to make contact, though George has done so previously, it is the parent's responsibility to establish and maintain contact, something that Simon has consistently failed to do."

Mrs Rossington added: "It is bad enough he ignores George but to refuse any financial help whatsoever rubs salt into his wounds. He sees his father living a lavish lifestyle and yet we are left to struggle to pay for George to continue his education."

A statement from Simon Danczuk’s office said: “In contrast to many MPs, Simon is happy to be open about his personal life.

“But there are some matters he feels it is inappropriate to comment on.

“This is a private issue which amounts to little more than a disagreement over family finances.

“Airing this matter publicly is intrusive, serves no public interest and in no way relates to Simon’s role as Rochdale’s MP.”

On being read the statement, Mrs Rossington said she was "incredulous", she commented: "Hypocrite! He peddles newspaper interviews and trawls TV studios airing the dirty laundry of his private life when it is on his terms and he is being paid thousands of pounds for doing so, then all of a sudden, when it doesn't suit him, he tries to shut down the inevitable criticism and embarrassment by claiming it is a private family matter. It is not, he is in a position of power and has responsibility for making decisions that affect the most vulnerable in society and it reflects very poorly on him that he chooses to leave his own son vulnerable."

Mrs Rossington added: "An MP should expect scrutiny and it is clearly a matter of public interest when an MP's conduct is at odds with the image he seeks to portray in public - he has frequently posted photos of his youngest children (with Karen Danczuk) on Twitter posing as the doting father and yet his teenage children are ignored."