Conservative MP Mark Pritchard arrested over rape allegation

Tory MP has been arrested and released on police bail following an allegation of rape

The Conservative MP Mark Pritchard has been arrested following a rape allegation and released on bail, it emerged this afternoon.

The arrest – after he voluntarily went to a north London police station – was confirmed by the Metropolitan Police in a letter to the Commons Speaker John Bercow.

The letter, seen by The Independent, told Mr Bercow: “I write to inform you that on 2nd December 2014, Mark Pritchard MP was arrested at 6.14pm at Holborn Police Station in London by MPS officers.

“Mr Pritchard was questioned by police and released on bail later the same evening at 10.16pm. The matter is subject to further investigation and is sub judice at the present time.”

Mr Pritchard has been the MP for The Wrekin since 2005 and won the Shropshire seat with a 9,450 majority over Labour at the last election. Mr Pritchard, a former secretary of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories, has repeatedly denied speculation that he could defect to Ukip.

A statement from Scotland Yard said: “We can confirm that a 48-year-old man voluntarily attended a north London police station on Tuesday, 2 December where he was arrested, following an allegation of rape in central London.

“He has been bailed to a date in early January 2015 pending further enquiries.”