Yorkshire MP arrested over attack on son outside petrol station

Craig Whittaker, a 49-year-old father-of-three, is said to have attacked Lee following a bust-up outside the station at 10.30pm on Burnley Road, Mytholmroyd, near Hebden Bridge on Boxing Day.

It is understood he was driving his son home to Manchester.

Mr Whittaker, who was elected in 2010 in his first attempt at winning a Parliamentary seat, said at the time it had been a lifelong dream to get into the corridors of power at Westminster.

This morning he said he had “been made aware of the allegations by the police and he has given a full statement to the police and because this is under police investigation I cannot add anything further.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “Police are investigating an allegation of assault that occurred at a service station on Burnley Road. A 49-year-old man has been arrested and bailed pending the outcome of further enquiries and consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.”

Many members of the Calder Valley Conservative Association are attending the funeral today of President Christine Haigh and were unavailable for comment.

But one of Mr Whittaker’s close friends, who did not want to be named, said: “I am amazed. This is the first I have heard of this.”

Former Hebden Royd Mayor Susan Press, who is a candidate in the Calder Valley elections this May, said: “Whatever the individual circumstances of this case people expect certain standards of MPs - particularly when they tell us they represent the Party of family values. Craig Whittaker is accountable to his constituents and I expect many will be raising the issue with him.”