A LABOUR MP who spent eight years as a councillor in East Lancashire has admitted taking drugs.

In an interview with a national newspaper over the weekend, former Blackburn with Darwen councillor Simon Danczuk, 47, admitted taking ecstasy and cannabis.

Mr Danczuk, who was born in Hapton and grew up in Padiham, told the Lancashire Telegraph that he thought it was ‘important to be honest’ when asked about drugs use.

The Rochdale MP was elected to Blackburn with Darwen Council in 1994, and his ex-wife Sonia Milewski alleged that he took drugs during his time serving the area.

Mr Danczuk would not confirm when he had taken drugs, but said it was all in his past now.

He said: “I was asked whether I had ever used drugs and I think it is important to be honest and open about that.

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“It is not unusual for politicians to be evasive but I don’t want to be that kind of politician, so when I was asked about this I explained that I had used drugs.

“It is all a very long time ago, way before I became an MP.

“It is all in my past, it’s not something I’m proud of but it is part of where I came from and I do have a past.

“I am not a career politician who has glided through life into a parliamentary seat.

“I’m an ordinary bloke who believes in the power of politics.

People should judge me on how I perform as an MP for Rochdale now.”

Mr Danczuk was elected to parliament as MP for Rochdale in 2010.

In the run-up to the 2005 General Election he was campaign manager for Janet Anderson, who was defending her seat in Rossendale with Darwen.

Earlier this year,Mr Danczuk co-wrote a book about disgraced former MP Cyril Smith.

In the book, Smile for the Camera: The double life of Cyril Smith, Mr Danczuk questioned why three separate police investigations into abuse allegations concerning Smith failed to result in any charges being brought by prosecutors, amid claims of MI5 and Special Branch involvement in past inquiries.

Mr Smith had served as a former Rochdale MP for the Liberal and Liberal Democrat parties.