A minister has “paused” her support for Daniel Korski in the race to become the Tory mayoral candidate for London after he faced a groping allegation. 

Claire Coutinho, an education minister, had given her backing to Mr Korski, a former Downing Street aide, and said he would “be a great Mayor”. 

She was asked this morning during an interview on Sky News if she was now pausing her support for him and she said: “I would say I would be on pause at the moment because lots of things are happening.” 

When asked again if she was pausing her support, Ms Coutinho said: “Yes because I think we need to see what’s happened. But at the same time this is an allegation, he has roundly denied it. 

“If there is a complaint in the system it needs to be followed up swiftly so we can find the facts and see what’s happened. But I do think it is a very serious and concerning allegation.” 

Mr Korski, a former Downing Street adviser and businessman, has been accused of groping a woman’s breast at a meeting in No10. 

Daisy Goodwin, a television producer, said she had been assaulted and was left feeling surprised and humiliated after she met Mr Korski to discuss a forthcoming documentary. Mr Korski has vehemently denied the allegation. 

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