Damian Green is prepared to release text messages he sent to a female activist to a Cabinet Office inquiry in a bid to disprove allegations that he made inappropriate advances.

Kate Maltby, who is three decades younger than the First Secretary of State, told The Times that Mr Green had "fleetingly" touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015 and a year later sent her a "suggestive" text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.

Earlier this week the Prime Minister wrote to Commons Speaker John Bercow demanding tough new rules to govern MPs’ behaviour after it was revealed that Westminster aides had complied a dossier of 36 current Tory MPs against whom allegations of inappropriate behaviour have been made - including having affairs with junior colleagues, being "handsy" with women and using prostitutes.

During PMQs today, Mrs May was accused of having evidence three years ago that party whips had used information about sexual abuse to “demand loyalty from MPs” but had failed to act.