Ex on Danczuk's "drinking problem"

The former girlfriend of Labour MP Simon Danczuk claims he has drinking problems that are stopping him from being an effective MP.

Claire Hamilton was in a relationship with the Rochdale MP, who has been suspended by the Labour party after newspaper allegations about his private life, for three months.

"Simon hasn't got a stop button. When he starts to drink he will just keep consuming. If it's there he'll drink it" said Miss Hamilton to reporter Sima Kotecha.

The Sun alleged Mr Danczuk, MP for Rochdale, exchanged explicit messages with a 17-year-old girl. Mr Danczuk told the Sun he felt "lonely" and was "drunk" while on holiday in Spain when he sent the texts.

"I have a drink problem, and that is a major contributory reason why I sent the messages...I've seen a psychiatrist about it and he's told me to stop drinking for six months," he said.