Nigel Evans has resigned as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons after it emerged he will be charged with a series of sex offences against seven men.
Evans, 55, who said he will continue to represent his Ribble Valley constituency in Lancashire, is accused of two offences of indecent assault, five counts of sexual assault and one rape charge.
Shortly after leaving Preston police station on Tuesday night, the Tory MP vowed to clear his name in relation to the charges, which date back to 2002.
Evans will appear before magistrates in Preston on September 18.
The indecent assaults are alleged to have been committed between January 1 2002 and January 1 2004; the sexual assaults between January 1 2009 and April 1 2013, and the rape between March 29 2013 and April 1.
Evans, from Pendleton, Lancashire, answered bail having previously been arrested in May and June.
He was rearrested and interviewed by detectives throughout the day before being charged.
Mr Evans was a vice-chairman of the Conservative Party from 1999 to 2001. When Iain Duncan Smith became party leader in 2001, he was promoted to the shadow cabinet as shadow Welsh secretary a post he held for two years.
Mr Evans has resigned as deputy speaker, but insisted he will continue as an MP.