No spanking, no whip: Arch-Corbyn critic suspended by Labour over sexts to 17yo girl
Labour MP Simon Danczuk has been suspended by the party following allegations he ‘sexted’ a 17-year-old girl in his constituency.
The Sun newspaper alleges Danczuk exchanged explicit messages with teenager Sophena Houlihan after she contacted the Rochdale MP to ask for a job as a case worker in his office.
Danczuk has been a prominent campaigner against child sexual exploitation and played a role in exposing the late Sir Cyril Smith as a pedophile.
The MP is also a vocal critic of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. He recently told Sky News he would “probably give Jeremy a D if I had to score him.”
Labour can dump Danczuk without the latter claiming he was persecuted by the Party. It's a win win for Corbyn. Happy New Year.
— David 2112 (@David21123) December 31, 2015A Labour Party spokesman said a full investigation will take place into the allegations.
“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.”
Corbyn refused to elaborate on the suspension, other than to say it was because of Danczuk’s “conduct.”
Can't help but think that Tory mps defending Danczuk says a lot about him and his politics.
— Liam (@liamkingstonian) December 31, 2015“Simon has had his membership of the party suspended. He will now be investigated by the national executive,” the Labour leader said on a visit to see flood damage in York.
“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.”
Responding to the revelations, Danczuk said it was an “extremely low point” in his life.
Today's Sun story, while not entirely accurate, refers to an extremely low point in my life
— Simon Danczuk (@SimonDanczuk) December 31, 2015My behaviour was inappropriate & I apologise unreservedly to everyone I've let down. I was stupid & there's no fool like an old fool
— Simon Danczuk (@SimonDanczuk) December 31, 2015I'm more saddened that this episode could overshadow the important work we're doing to help Rochdale & that's where my focus lies
— Simon Danczuk (@SimonDanczuk) December 31, 2015The Rochdale MP, who also serves as the Labour Party’s whip, allegedly had a steamy text conversation with Houlihan, during which he said he was “horny” and asked her if she wanted “spanking.”
Houlihan told the Sun she felt duped by the MP.
“When I first got in touch I never expected the messages to get so graphic. At the time I played along with it, but now I feel like he duped me. I was keen for a career in politics and he is a very high-profile MP and I was in awe of him,” she said.
