Conservative MP Nigel Evans has said allegations that he raped a man and sexually assaulted another are "completely false".
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons strongly denied the claims
and said he had no idea why they had been made by two people he
"regarded as friends".In a short statement outside his constituency home in the village of Pendleton, near Clitheroe, in Lancashire, Mr Evans said: "Yesterday I was interviewed by the police concerning two complaints - one of which dates back four years, made by two people who are well-known to each other, and who until yesterday I regarded as friends.
"The complaints are completely false and I cannot understand why they have been made, especially as I have continued to socialise with one as recently as last week.
"I appreciate the way the police have handled this in such a sensitive manner.
"And I would like to thank my colleagues, friends and members of the public who have expressed their support, and like me, a sense of incredulity at these events. Thank you very much," he added.
The 55-year-old was arrested by police at his home on Saturday morning on suspicion of raping one man and sexually assaulting another between July 2009 and March 2013. Both alleged victims are in their 20s.
After being questioned for several hours he was released on bail at around 10.30pm until June 19.
It is understood Prime Minister David Cameron and Speaker John Bercow were informed of Mr Evans' arrest.
The popular MP did not answer any questions after reading from the prepared statement this morning, but an aide said he was not intending to stand down, either as a deputy speaker or as a Member of Parliament.
Earlier, Mr Evans, who has represented Ribble Valley since 1992, posted a message on Facebook thanking members of the public for their support.
He wrote: "thanks for the amazing and overwhelming support at this difficult time ..."
Speaking on Sky News' Murnaghan programme, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "Of course we are all very limited about what we can all say about this, it's subject to legal proceedings.
"It's right to point out, and for me as a long-standing friend of his, to point out that he is a very popular and well-respected Member of Parliament and deputy speaker - I think that is true across the House of Commons actually for MPs of all parties, so we will all be very sorry to see this situation.
"It's not possible for us to comment in more detail on something subject to legal proceedings."
Brian Binley, Tory MP for Northampton South and a friend of Mr Evans, said: "I was just deeply disturbed and shocked.
"I've known him ever since I've been in Parliament and I came in in 2005. I consider him to be a very good friend. I know him to be caring, compassionate and in no way would he inflict himself violently on any other person."
Constituents in Pendleton said they were also stunned by the arrest.
One villager, who did not want to be named, said: "I am shocked. I like him. He is a good MP and he has done a lot for the Ribble Valley. Obviously he is well known in the village and goes to the local pub a lot."
Another resident, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said: "It's unbelievable, I know him very well. He is an excellent person and I would stand by him 100%."
A prominent gay rights campaigner, Mr Evans became one of three deputy speakers in 2010, earning £102,000-a-year, including his MP's salary.
In December of the same year, he came out as gay in an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper in which he said that he was "tired of living a lie".
Mr Evans, who was vice chairman of the Conservative Party from 1999 to 2001, said he had been threatened with exposure by political opponents.
Michael Ranson, chairman of the Ribble Valley Conservative Association, said people in the constituency were "completely shell-shocked" at the news.
"He is a very popular MP and a very good constituency MP. He's given assistance to a lot of his constituents over many years," he told Sky News. Everybody's completely shell-shocked."
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