Priti Patel's allies have mounted an extraordinary fightback by contesting Theresa May's account of when she became aware of meetings the minister held with senior politicians in Israel.

The Prime Minister is expected to sack Ms Patel this evening after ordering her to fly back from Kenya amid mounting pressure over the International Development Secretary's trip to Israel during a "family holiday" in August.

Ms Patel has already apologised after admitting that she held 12 meetings in 12 days in Israel, including with the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without informing the Foreign Office in advance.

However the Jewish Chronicle claimed that Downing Street was made aware that Ms Patel had met Mr Netanyahu in August, contradicting an official statement by No 10 that Mrs May was not made aware until last Friday. The claim is strongly denied by Downing Street.