Grant Shapps said sleaze accusations are not “specific to one particular political party” after an MP lost the Conservative whip while the Tories investigate claims he misused campaign funds.

Mark Menzies is alleged to have used thousands of pounds given by donors to fund medical expenses and to have made a late-night call to a 78-year-old aide asking for help because he had been locked up by “bad people” demanding money for his release.

The Fylde MP disputes the allegations reported by The Times but the Conservative Party is looking into the claims.

Mr Shapps, the Defence Secretary, was told during an interview on Sky News this morning that a number of Tory MPs had lost the whip in recent years after claims of wrongdoing. 

He said that there are also “MPs from other parties who have experienced similar problems or misdemeanours”. 

Mr Shapps said: “It is not something which is just specific to one particular political party. We could list cases on the other sides. That is not the point of this discussion I realise.”

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