Tory MP says Simon Danczuk has been 'stitched up by Corbynites'

Stewart Jackson accused Labour of 'haste' in suspending the Rochdale MP

Simon Danczuk (PA)

Labour MP Simon Danczuk has been “stitched up” by supporters of Jeremy Corbyn within the Labour party, a Conservative MP has claimed.

Stewart Jackson, the MP for Peterborough, was commenting after Mr Danczuk was suspended from his party pending an investigation into allegations he sent explicit text messages to a 17-year-old girl.

“Simon Danczuk has obviously been foolish but he's also been stitched up like a kipper by the Corbyn cronies in UK Labour,” Mr Jackson posted on Twitter.

Asked why he believed this, Mr Jackson replied: “Maybe the haste with which he's been suspended for what appears to be something that is not a criminal offence [,] if stupid.”

“Given he's had some mental health issues, [the] more compassionate thing would [be] to have given him space and return to the issue next week.”

The Rochdale MP has been an outspoken critic of Mr Corbyn’s leadership and during the Labour leadership contest said MPs would be plotting to oust him “from day one”.

It was reported earlier this year that Mr Danczuk was considering acting as a “stalking horse” to oust Mr Corbyn by standing against him in a leadership contest.

The Sun reports that in the course of a series of what appear to be flirtatious texts between the two, the MP asked the girl if she wanted “spanking” and explained that he was “horny”.

She also sent him a number of sexually-charged text messages.

Mr Danczuk allegedly asked Ms Houlihan to meet at the Labour party conference and reportedly suggested that she join him on a trip to Spain.

The Sun reports that she turned him down and the pair never met in person. There is no suggestion that Mr Danczuk has broken any law.

Mr Danczuk prominently led a campaign to expose his predecessor as Rochdale MP, Sir Cyril Smith, as a paedophile.

The age of consent is 16 years old in the United Kingdom. There is no suggestion that Mr Danczuk has broken any laws.

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 however defines the age of consent as 18 when a person is “in a position of trust” over someone else.

The law defines this as including someone who is regularly involved in training, supervising or being in sole charge of a person under 18.

Mr Danczuk posted an apology on Twitter at the time he was suspended: “Today's Sun story, while not entirely accurate, refers to an extremely low point in my life," he said.

“My behaviour was inappropriate and I apologise unreservedly to everyone I've let down. I was stupid and there's no fool like an old fool.

“I'm more saddened that this episode could overshadow the important work we're doing to help Rochdale & that's where my focus lies.”