Dominic Raab was forced to reveal he had been tested for coronavirus after concerns were raised about his coughing during the Budget.

The foreign secretary began trending on Twitter after viewers of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s speech spotted him showing signs of ill health on the front bench.

LBC presenter Shelagh Fogarty was among thousands on social media to raise concerns about the 46-year-old’s wellbeing, tweeting: “Can someone please get Dominic Raab a large hanky to cough in. He is barely covering his mouth and coughing consistently on the front bench.”

The MP for Esher and Walton told the Telegraph he was “at the tail end of a cold” adding: “I’ve already been checked for coronavirus and it was negative”.

Fears for the health of those working in parliament have increased after health minister Nadine Dorries revealed she had tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating.

Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg has said there are no current plans to shut down parliament, but that advice would continue to be sought from England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty.

Sources said that the feeling inside Number 10 was that parliament needed to be kept open. According to one cabinet minister: “There’s a feeling at all levels that Parliament needs to remain operational.”