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| Police drop rape inquiry against MP Mark Pritchard | Police drop rape inquiry against MP Mark Pritchard |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An investigation into rape claims against MP Mark Pritchard has been dropped, the Metropolitan Police say. | An investigation into rape claims against MP Mark Pritchard has been dropped, the Metropolitan Police say. |
| Mr Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin in Shropshire since 2005, was arrested last month following an alleged incident in central London. | Mr Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin in Shropshire since 2005, was arrested last month following an alleged incident in central London. |
| The MP voluntarily attended a police station for questioning and was bailed pending further inquiries. | The MP voluntarily attended a police station for questioning and was bailed pending further inquiries. |
| But police said on Tuesday that he would face no further action as there was "insufficient evidence". | |
| Mr Pritchard, who is standing for re-election at May's general election, has said he will give a statement shortly "concerning the allegation" made against him. | |
| A police spokesman said: "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 returned on bail on 6 January where he was informed he will face no further action as there was insufficient evidence." | |
| The BBC's political correspondent Carole Walker said the police's decision would be a "huge relief" to the MP, who won his seat in 2010 with a majority of more than 9,000. | |
| Mr Pritchard served as secretary of the influential Conservative 1922 committee for two years until 2012, and is a member of Parliament's joint national security strategy committee. | |
| He has dismissed reports in recent months that he could possibly defect to UKIP. |