The whole thing is just nonsense on stilts Christine Hamilton

Neil Hamilton, 52, said: "There is no truth whatsoever in the allegations that have been made against me and my wife."

Christine Hamilton described the experience as "ghastly and humiliating" and said she did not expect charges to be brought.

"The whole thing is just nonsense on stilts," she said.

Mr and Mrs Hamilton condemned the alleged involvement in the affair of public relations consultant Max Clifford.

"The whole thing is a total fabrication and a lie and the fact that Max Clifford's name has been put to us by the police is no surprise whatsoever," said Mrs Hamilton.

The couple appeared on the steps of Barkingside police station with TV presenter Louis Theroux, who is making a programme about them.

The former MP was recently declared bankrupt after he lost a libel action against Harrods owner Mohammed Al Fayed over the so-called "cash for questions" affair.

He lost his seat in the 1997 general election to former BBC correspondent Martin Bell who ran against him on an anti-corruption ticket.

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