Demo At Danczuk's Over MP's Texts

Published 4th Jan 2016

The Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk has 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 has blamed a drink problem'' for the sexually-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 said: "This protest has been organised by my political opponents who have formed a bizarre alliance in an attempt to use problems in my personal life as an excuse to try and intimidate me into resigning.

"This is a group made up of former Lib Dem councillors and the far left. There has even been a suggestion that Momentum members have invited the North West branch of the EDL to take part today.

"But I will not be harassed out of office just because, like many other people, I have made some mistakes.