Conservative MP Mark Pritchard arrested on suspicion of rape

REUTERS/Andrew Winning

Mark Pritchard, a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party, has been arrested on suspicion of rape, according to official parliamentary records and police.

Details in Hansard, parliament's official account of proceedings, recorded that London police had sent a letter on Wednesday to the Speaker of the House of Commons"relating to the arrest of Mark Pritchard", 48, who represents the Wrekin constituency in Shropshire, western England.

Pritchard could not be reached at either his office in parliament or his constituency office. Reuters left messages seeking comment with both, and contacted Pritchard by email. The Conservative party declined to comment.

"We can confirm that a 48-year-old man voluntarily attended a north London police station on Tuesday, December 2, where he was arrested, following an allegation of rape in central London," London's Metropolitan Police said in statement.

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

No further details of the alleged offence were immediately available.