Tory MP questioned over alleged assault on children

Police questioned a senior Conservative MP yesterday over claims that he assaulted his teenage son and daughter. Officers were called to the home of Nigel Waterson, the shadow Pensions minister and MP for Eastbourne, at about midnight on Sunday.

Sources at Westminster alleged that Mr Waterson's adopted son was involved in a violent fracas at their home in Beckenham, Kent.

It is understood that the MP, who is a friend of the Conservative leader David Cameron, called the police himself to report an assault but was held for 13 hours pending an inquiry by child abuse investigators. "When the police arrived, his son claimed he was assaulted, so the police arrested Nigel," said the source. Mr Waterson's wife and two children were taken to another police station for questioning.

A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said: "A 58-year-old man was arrested. Both the alleged victims are in their early to mid-teens."

She said the alleged victims did not attend hospital, adding: "The allegations are not of a sexual nature."

Mr Waterson, who also serves as the shadow minister for Older People, declined to comment on the alleged incident,

He has been bailed until March. A source said he was not expected to be charged.