Simon Danczuk

Danczuk received a video threatening to 'put a bullet in his head' during the by-election. A man was arrested, pleaded guilty in December 2025 and received a twelve-month community order in February 2026.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Protagonist is the victim

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist is the victim

After several years outside Parliament, Danczuk joined Reform UK and was selected for the Rochdale by-election. His selection immediately revived the case involving sexual messages to a 17-year-old young woman and debate over the appropriateness of his return to politics.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Danczuk sought to refocus the by-election on local issues with the slogan 'vote for Rochdale, not Gaza', in contrast with George Galloway's pro-Gaza campaign. The election was among the most polarised of the period, involving religious tensions, accusations of extremism and security problems.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After Danczuk finished sixth with 1,968 votes (6.3%), Reform UK stated that the election had not been 'free and fair', citing threats, exclusion from a hustings event and questions about postal votes. Danczuk subsequently adopted that description in his comments.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

IPSA found that Danczuk had received an increase in his housing budget for more than three years for two children who did not normally live with him and required him to repay £11,679.70, which he did. The matter was subsequently examined by police and the CPS; in February 2018, the evidential test for criminal prosecution was not met and no charges were authorised.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Labour suspended Danczuk following the sexting controversy. In January 2016, he threatened legal action, notably challenging the impartiality of certain participants in the process. His suspension continued despite a separate criminal investigation ending without charges.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Labour's NEC unanimously decided not to endorse him as a candidate following his suspension. Danczuk left Labour, challenged the decision and stood as an independent in Rochdale. He received only 883 votes, or 1.8%, and lost his deposit.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

During the 2017 election campaign, a woman alleged that Danczuk had raped her in Westminster in May 2016. He denied the allegation and criticised the timing of the complaint. The Metropolitan Police subsequently stated that no further action would be taken.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Directly implicated

Sexually explicit messages sent by Danczuk to Sophena Houlihan, then aged 17 and who had contacted him about a political career, were published. Danczuk apologised and described his behaviour as 'inappropriate and stupid'. Greater Manchester Police examined the messages and concluded that no criminal offence had been committed.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

His first wife Sonia Rossington publicly accused him of abusive behaviour, drug use and bullying during their marriage, stating that she intended to contact police. Danczuk denied the claims and denounced them as lies and a political campaign against him.

Attribution

Directly implicated

A woman accused Danczuk of raping her in 2006. He was interviewed voluntarily under caution and categorically denied the allegation. In October 2016, the CPS concluded that the evidence did not provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and no charges were brought.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Danczuk had claimed expenses for an Alicante–Gatwick flight to return from holiday to be sworn in following re-election. IPSA concluded that the rules did not cover the journey. He had repaid £186.68 before being contacted by the Compliance Officer, who closed the case without a formal investigation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

An invoice of £500 for two days of 'parliamentary media relations' and 'crisis management' over Christmas was claimed as a parliamentary expense a few days after the sexting scandal. The disclosure prompted criticism over public money being used to manage a reputational crisis.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Danczuk received substantial media income, including £5,000 from the Sun on Sunday for an interview about the sexting scandal and several thousand pounds from Fameflynet for 'media advice' and photography opportunities. Critics accused him of profiting financially from his controversial notoriety.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Danczuk was detained in Spain and spent at least one night in a cell following an alleged altercation with his former wife Karen. Reports indicate that she did not wish to press charges when the matter came before a court and that he was released.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following further criticism by Danczuk of GMP's handling of historical sexual abuse, Ian Hanson, chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, told him to 'put up or shut up'. Danczuk accused Hanson of diverting attention from police failures and challenged him to a public debate.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Sonia Rossington publicly accused Danczuk of bullying and abusive behaviour which she associated notably with alcohol and drugs during their marriage, and announced her intention to contact the police.

Attribution

Accused

Danczuk was photographed drinking with Nigel Farage, called him a highly effective politician and urged Labour to adopt a tougher position on immigration. Rumours of a defection to UKIP multiplied; he denied them, describing himself as 'solidly Labour'.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Parliamentary Commissioner and Committee on Standards found that Danczuk had registered 13 interests or payments late, totalling £19,894, including income from his book and its serialisation. The Committee considered the breaches serious but accepted that he had not sought to conceal the income and recommended no further sanction.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Danczuk became one of Jeremy Corbyn's most outspoken internal critics and announced that he might stand as a 'stalking horse' to trigger a leadership contest if Labour performed poorly.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Danczuk named his predecessor Cyril Smith in Parliament as a perpetrator of child sexual abuse, then co-wrote Smile for the Camera with Matthew Baker. The book played a major role in reopening debate over the abuse and institutional protection Smith had received.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

His former wife Sonia Rossington told the press that Danczuk had used ecstasy and cannabis as a student. Danczuk acknowledged that past use.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following the Rochdale network's convictions, Danczuk publicly emphasised the racial dimension of the case and criticised authorities for avoiding discussion for too long of the fact that the perpetrators in the prosecuted network were Asian. This stance placed him at the centre of debate over race, religion and child sexual exploitation.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The research company founded by Danczuk with Ruth Turner lost much of its business after the 2010 general election and was liquidated with approximately £222,000 in debts.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated