Tory whips yesterday reinstated two suspended MPs so they could take part in the no confidence vote on Theresa May’s leadership.

Charlie Elphicke, the MP for Dover, was suspended five months ago for alleged sexual offences involving two female members of his staff, while Andrew Griffiths, MP for Burton, was suspended after it emerged he sent sexually explicit text messages to two younger women.

Their reinstatement was announced this afternoon in a move criticised by Labour as a "betrayal of women."

The prospect had earlier been raised by Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee who is overseeing the vote by the 317 elected Tory MPs.