Conservative MP Nick Boles has been accused of being “creepy” after posting a Tweet in which he described his Labour parliamentary colleague Jess Phillips as “irresistible”.

The former Tory minister made the comment alongside a link to a newspaper profile in which Ms Phillips is quoted as saying: “I think I’d be a good prime minister.”

Mr Boles, member for Grantham and Stamford, wrote: “There is something about @jessphillips that I find irresistible. I would walk over hot coals for her. And yes she would be a great Prime Minister.”

The MP for Birmingham Yardley, herself, declined to reply to the post, although she did “like” it.

But hundreds of other Twitter users suggested the comments were unbecoming.

Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well Show all 18 1 /18 Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well These billboards were plastered by campaign group Led By Donkeys @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well Undated handout photo issued by Led by Donkeys of their billboard featuring a blank tweet in Jeremy Corbyn's Islington North constituency in protest over what they claim is his lack of leadership on Brexit. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday February 12, 2019. For the past month, campaign group Led by Donkeys has been putting up posters all over the country featuring quotes mostly from hard-Brexit MPs which claimed the process of leaving the EU would be easy. The Labour leader is the group's latest target because of his failure to back a second referendum on Brexit. See PA story PROTEST Donkeys. Photo credit should read: Led by Donkeys /PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter Top politicians' Brexit tweets haven't aged well @ByDonkeys / Twitter

“Mate,” wrote one, echoing a relatively common consensus, “you sound like a creepy uncle.”

"Wondering how I’m going to explain this to my husband...," Mr Boles, who is gay, tweeted a few hours later, in response to the online reaction.

Ms Phillips described the comments about her fellow MP as "utterly ridiculous!".

More pertinently, perhaps, the post appeared to raise suspicions that one – or both – the MPs may eventually leave their respective parties and join The Independent Group, a breakaway self-proclaimed centre-ground cohort of MPs made up of former Tories and Labour parliamentarians.

Mr Boles - a one-time remainer and now soft-Brexiteer - is already facing a battle to keep his own seat as a Tory after members of his local party voted to select a different candidate for the next election because of differences over Europe.

Ms Phillips, meanwhile, has been a consistent critic of Jeremy Corbyn and has regularly denounced the party's handling of reports of antisemitism under his leadership.

Nick Boles, business minister (Rex Features)

In the Times article, which Mr Boles referenced in his Tweet, she further hinted at leaving the party.

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