Simon Danczuk

Simon Danczuk has been the Labour Party MP for Rochdale since 2010. Danczuk was successfully re-elected in the May 2015 general election with a majority of 12,442.

Danczuk is parliamentary private secretary to shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna.

In the run-up to the 2015 elections, Danczuk's loyalty to Labour was questioned after he was spotted visiting a pub with Nigel Farage. In response, Danczuk said he was “solidly Labour” and definitely not about to join Farage’s party.

Danczuk apologetic for late registration of interests

Danczuk has been reprimanded by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for late registration of more than 10 financial interests totalling nearly £20,000. He apologised and said that it was 'during a very busy period. From now on, everything will be done in an open and timely manner '

Backed Labour's proposed ban on MPs' second jobs

In 2014 Danczuk backed Labour leader Ed Miliband's call to impose a ban on MPs holding outside directorships and consultancies and a cap on outside earnings of around £10,000.

Danczuk's backing came despite revelations that he earned almost £20,000 from the media and the publishers of his book about Cyril Smith between July and December 2014.

Background

Before entering parliament Danczuk worked in a social research company based in Manchester that he co-founded in 1999 called Urban Visions Limited, and prior to this he worked as a researcher for The Big Issue in the North.

Danczuk also founded The Necessary Group, which is a campaign group of businessmen and politicians.

Education

He studied Economic Sociology and Politics as a mature student at Lancaster University