Poll: Should people accused of sex offences be given anonymity until charged?

The Wrekin MP was initially arrested after voluntarily attending a London police station on December 2.

He was released on bail to return yesterday, where he was informed he would face no further action.

In a statement outside Westminster, Mr Pritchard, 48, said: "To be falsely accused of anything is an awful thing.

"Of course (my accuser) remains anonymous.

"The law on anonymity does need to be reviewed and fairness does need to play a far greater role in these cases."

Mr Pritchard described the ordeal as 'a testing time', and thanked friends for their support.

He said his accuser had 'concocted a vindictive and outrageous story'.

Mr Pritchard said: "Sadly, as an MP, sometimes you have a target on your back."

The law currently states that people who allege they are victims of sexual offences - including rape - are entitled to life-long anonymity. There has been continued debate on whether that anonymity should be lifted on those who make false allegations.

Mr Pritchard divorced his wife of 15 years, Sondra, in 2013.

He entered the Commons in 2005 after a career in marketing and has been a prominent figure on the Eurosceptic wing of the Conservative Party.

He served as secretary of the powerful Tory 1922 committee for two years until 2012, and is a member of Parliament's joint national security strategy committee.

Before his arrest, Mr Pritchard was in the House taking part in a debate on the peace process in Colombia.

In September, Mr Pritchard disclosed that he had been targeted by a journalist as part of the sting that led to Tory minister Brooks Newmark resigning over explicit selfies.

Fellow Tory MP Nigel Evans, who was cleared of a string of sexual offences in April last year, said those accused of rape should be granted anonymity until they are charged with an offence.