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.
Nigel Evans reads from a prepared written statement outside his home "I appreciate the way the police have handled this in such a sensitive manner."
Later he broke from what he described as his "Sunday lunchtime pint" at his local pub to thank people for their messages of support.
He said: "This has been, notwithstanding, the loss of my mother and my brother, very recently my brother, the worst 24 hours of my life."
He added that the one thing that had kept him going was the support of villagers and of those who had left messages on Facebook.
Mr Evans' office also released a statement saying that he had asked to be excused from chairing the debate on the Queen's Speech next week and this had been accepted. However, he will be returning to Westminster this week as planned.
A policeman searches the MP's car on Saturday 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.
Prime Minister David Cameron and Speaker John Bercow were informed of Mr Evans' arrest.
The popular MP is not intending to stand down, either as a deputy speaker or as a Member of Parliament.
Mr Evans, who has represented Ribble Valley since 1992, has also 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 ..."
Politicians and constituents have said they are "shocked" by the claims 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."
A statement on the Ribble Valley Conservatives Association website said they expected Mr Evans to continue with his duties in the constituency as normal.
It said: "In our democracy everyone accused is innocent until proven guilty and therefore unless Nigel chooses himself to cease to be our MP or the electorate vote him out or justice system intervenes, we expect him to continue as normal to fulfil his duties in representing the people of the Ribble Valley."
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.
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%."
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