Scotland Yard is assessing two allegations of electoral fraud after claims the Tories offered peerages to senior Brexit Party figures to persuade them to stand down in the General Election.

Lord Falconer wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday calling for a probe into what he said were 'exceptionally serious allegations'.

The Labour former lord chancellor said it should be investigated as a matter of urgency and must be looked at by police in order to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the election.

Ann Widdecombe is prepared to 'swear on the Bible' that she was offered a role in the next phase of Brexit negotiations

The Prime Minister acknowledged that there may have been 'conversations' between senior Tories and people in the Brexit Party, but flatly denied there had been any offers of peerages, saying that was 'just not the way we operate'

His letter to Dame Cressida Dick and Max Hill QC refers to Nigel Farage's claim that he and eight other senior figures within the Brexit Party were offered peerages.

And Ann Widdecombe spoke on LBC today to reveal that she is prepared to 'swear on the Bible' that she had been offered a role in the next phase of Brexit allegations.

Brexit Party candidate for Peterborough, Mike Greene, was also allegedly offered an unpaid role in education in the hope that he would stand aside - according to a Conservative source reported by the BBC.

Lord Falconer wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Director of Public Prosecutions calling for a probe into what he said were 'exceptionally serious allegations'

The Metropolitan Police said: 'The MPS has received two allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice in relation to the 2019 General Election.

'The MPS special enquiry team is responsible for investigating all such criminal allegations. Both allegations are currently being assessed.

'The MPS will not be providing comment about individual cases.'

Mr Farage has claimed he had repeatedly been offered a seat in the House of Lords in an attempt to persuade him to 'go quietly'.

He said that when that failed, people working 'deep inside Number 10' had tried to bypass him, going directly to senior Brexit Party figures and suggesting eight of them could be made peers if they could persuade him to withdraw more of his candidates.

Commenting on the letter on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Michael Gove said: 'I've got great respect for Charlie Falconer (Lord Falconer) but I think that this sounds pretty nonsensical to me.' Pictured is Boris Johnson today in Mansfield

His letter to Dame Cressida Dick and Max Hill QC refers to Nigel Farage's claim that he and eight other senior figures within the Brexit Party were offered peerages

In his letter, senior peer Lord Falconer wrote: 'I wish to raise with you as a matter of urgency a number of recent reports in which senior figures in the Brexit Party have alleged that some of their candidates had been approached by the Conservative Party in an effort to persuade them to withdraw their candidacies from the upcoming General Election.'

He added: 'I believe these allegations raise serious questions about the integrity of the upcoming General Election, and in particular whether senior individuals at CCHQ or No. 10 have breached two sections of the Representation of the People Act 1983.'

He then cites the parts of the Act which refers to 'bribery' and 'corruptly', inducing or procuring someone to withdraw from being a candidate at an election.

Commenting on the letter on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Michael Gove said: 'I've got great respect for Charlie Falconer (Lord Falconer) but I think that this sounds pretty nonsensical to me.'

Lord Falconer said that as breaches of the 1983 Act may have taken place, he is 'formally requesting that the Director of Public Prosecutions do institute the necessary investigations and commence such prosecutions as he sees fit'.

Lord Falconer said that as breaches of the 1983 Act may have taken place, he is 'formally requesting that the Director of Public Prosecutions do institute the necessary investigations and commence such prosecutions as he sees fit'

The Prime Minister acknowledged that there may have been 'conversations' between senior Tories and people in the Brexit Party, but flatly denied there had been any offers of peerages, saying that was 'just not the way we operate'.

Lord Falconer said: 'These are exceptionally serious allegations which the DPP must, in accordance with his statutory duty, fully investigate as a matter of urgency.

'In addition, in order to maintain public confidence in the integrity of our electoral processes and this election, it is crucial that the Metropolitan Police also examine these accusations.'

The Brexit Party leader had already said they would not contest the 317 seats which the Conservatives had won in the 2017 election

The row came amid growing pressure on Mr Farage in the run-up to the close of nominations on Thursday to stand down Brexit Party candidates in all but a few dozen constituencies to avoid splitting the pro-Leave vote.

The Brexit Party leader had already said they would not contest the 317 seats which the Conservatives had won in the 2017 election.

Suspicions that individual Brexit Party candidates were coming under pressure to stand aside were heightened after the prospective candidate for Dudley North announced he would not be running.

Rupert Lowe, a Brexit Party MEP and former chairman of Southampton FC, revealed his decision as nominations were closing - meaning it was too late for the party to put forward an alternative.

Lord Falconer's letter includes a mention of Ann Widdecombe, the former Tory MP now standing for the Brexit Party in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.

Ms Widdecombe said she was offered a role in the Brexit negotiations if she was prepared to stand aside.

Pressed on Ms Widdecombe's claim, Mr Gove said: 'I haven't spoken to Ann and I don't know anyone who has spoken to Ann for months now.'

Commenting on whether he has asked anyone in the Conservative Party if the claims are true, Mr Gove said: 'I think the Prime Minister has been very clear that we're not engaging in pacts, negotiations - the decision for the Brexit Party to stand down was, as I understand it, a unilateral decision that was taken because the leadership of the Brexit Party recognised that if they stood in a range of seats they would imperil the chance of a Conservative majority government.'

Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib was asked about allegations that Tories have offered jobs and peerages to the Brexit Party in return for them standing down at the election.

Ms Widdecombe said she was offered a role in the Brexit negotiations if she was prepared to stand aside. Pictured is Jeremy Corbyn arriving for a Labour clause V meeting on the manifesto at Savoy Place in London

Pictured is Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell arriving for a Labour clause V meeting on the manifesto at Savoy Place in London

Asked if the claims are correct, Mr Habib laughed as he said: 'Sadly, no job was ever offered to me.'

But he added: 'I am aware that a number of my colleagues have been pressed. Ann Widdecombe for example was offered some sort of negotiating position with the Tory Party, from Number 10, someone from Number 10 called Ann.

'And I know there have been lots of conversations going on, and discussions, and pressure has been brought to bear.'

He said he was unable to say how many people had been pressured.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson arrives in Bermondsey. Swinson is currently visiting Labour-held seats in London on electric campaign bus

Jo Swinson makes a pizza at Cafe Amisha during her general election campaign tour in London

Asked about the Conservative Party's denials, and whether his comments amount to him saying the Tories are lying when they deny the claims, Mr Habib said: 'Well I'm saying they're being economical with the truth for sure. Absolutely. It has been going on. Without a shadow of a doubt.'

The Prime Minister has been out campaigning in Mansfield today in a bid to drum up more votes for the upcoming election.

As he arrived at the first house in Millersdale Avenue, Lucy Camm said: 'Jesus Christ, I cannot believe you are outside my mum and dad's house. I cannot believe you're in our street.'

The Prime Minister has been out campaigning in Mansfield today in a bid to drum up more votes for the upcoming electio

Today Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to staff and students as he visited the University of Bolton, after a large fire broke out at a student accommodation on Friday night

The Prime Minister has been out campaigning in Mansfield today but afterwards he headed to Bolton to see the impact of last night's fire

She added: 'You have definitely got our vote. We do not like Jeremy (Corbyn).'

Susan Kitchen, 71, answered at the third property he visited and said afterwards her heart was going '10 to the dozen' and she was 'absolutely shocked' to see the PM, who she quizzed on Brexit.

She said: 'I told him I was worried about the deal he was making and asked him specifically if their laws could overrule our laws because that's what I've heard.

'He said no, absolutely not, so I says to him if you're wrong I'm going to write you a letter - and it won't be pleasant.'

Boris Johnson met staff and students at the University of Bolton today as he took a detour from his campaigning

Boris Johnson in Bolton today as he met students impacted by the fire that destroyed a block of accommodation last night

Crunch time for Corbyn as he has to decide Labour immigration policy today amid claims he will back down over full freedom of movement to boost support in party's heartlands

Jeremy Corbyn is under pressure to make a clear commitment on Labour's immigration policy as the party's manifesto is finalised later today.

The Labour leader previously championed to a 'fair immigration process' which could include looking at whether freedom of movement will continue if Britain leaves the EU.

But he is now set to back down to boost support in the party's vulnerable heartlands despite the possibility of a backlash among grassroots activists who campaigned for the policies' adoption.

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured arriving to the Clause V meeting) is under pressure to make a clear commitment on Labour's immigration policy

The Labor leader previously vowed that the manifesto would 'knock your socks off' but he has since been left to deal with friction in the party over a number of key issues

The Labor leader vowed that the manifesto would 'knock your socks off' and is now meeting with his shadow cabinet, trade unions, affiliated organisations and the national policy forum to hammer out the final details in London.

He was accompanied by shadow chancellor John McDonnell.

Leader of Unite the Union, Len McCluskey, arrived moments later and approached protesters chanting in support of free movement at the entrance.

Mr McCluskey shouted over them: 'I'm going to support free movement, and I support migrant workers.'

Immigration has re-emerged as one of the major General Election battlegrounds and will be among the discussions at today's 'Clause V' meeting.

Mr Corbyn faces a front bench split following claims that a draft version of Labour's manifesto contains a commitment to freedom of movement, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was greeted by pro-immigration protesters as she arrived for the meeting on the manifesto at Savoy Place in London

One pro-immigration campaigner held a sign outside Labour's manifesto meeting that said: 'Working class unity means fighting racist divide and rule. Defend free movement. Movement for justice'

The newspaper quoted a shadow cabinet source as saying: 'If we maintain a close relationship with the single market then we are going to have to maintain freedom of movement. That's a given.'

There are also reports that policies of extending free movement and giving foreign nationals the right to vote in all UK elections are expected to be watered down or scrapped, according to The Independent.

A spokeswoman for the Labour party said: 'We didn't provide any guidance for them ahead of the manifesto and won't be for others.'

Campaigners are now warning that not giving immigrants the right to vote would fuel 'xenophobia, scaremongering and hate crime' and that backing down on this issue too would be 'pandering to the negative portrayal of immigrants'.

The Liberal Democrats also challenged Mr Corbyn to commit to preserving free movement with the meeting just hours away.

Lib Dem shadow home secretary Christine Jardine said: 'Jeremy Corbyn must make a cast-iron commitment in Labour's manifesto to preserve free movement.

'Failure to do so would be a betrayal of future generations and of the millions of voters across the country who want their right to free movement defended.'

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has also arrived for the meeting where Labour's front bench is said to be split over freedom of movement

Earlier this week, Mr Corbyn accused the Tories of fabricating figures about immigration.

The Conservatives had claimed net migration under Labour 'could increase to 840,000 per year'.

Home Secretary Priti Patel added that 'immigration would surge' after the party carried out analysis of its opposition's supposed proposals for open borders.

So far Labour has announced a plan to create a publicly-owned broadband entity to deliver free full-fibre internet to the entire nation as well as boosts to the minimum wage and the NHS.

Mr Corbyn has pledged to deliver 'the most radical and exciting plan for real change the British public has even seen'.

But the full details of the manifesto are set to remain tightly-sealed until the formal unveiling later down the line.

Meanwhile, the number of candidates running in the election has been confirmed.

There are 275 Brexit Party candidates standing despite Nigel Farage initially suggesting that his party would target every seat in Britain.

There was growing pressure on Mr Farage in the run-up to the close of nominations on Thursday to stand down Brexit Party candidates to avoid splitting the pro-Leave vote.

It was expected that there would be around 300 candidates running for Mr Farage's party after he said that they would not contest the 317 seats which the Conservatives had won in the 2017 election.

Full details of the manifesto are supposed to remain tightly-sealed until the formal unveiling on a date in future.

In a promise that will delight some and dismay others, Mr Corbyn has pledged to deliver 'the most radical and exciting plan for real change the British public has even seen'.

The Labour Party will discuss the final points of their manifesto with trade union representatives, before Corbyn announces their main policies later on Saturday