The revelation has led to widespread criticism from both within the Conservative party and opposition.

The Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Lord McDonald has shone a new light on this murky cover-up. Boris Johnson needs to own up to his web of lies and finally come clean today.”

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said it was “now clear that the prime minister knew about the seriousness of these complaints but decided to promote this man to a senior position in government anyway”, adding: “He refused to act and then lied about what he knew.

“Boris Johnson is dragging British democracy through the muck. His appalling judgement has made Westminster a less safe place to work.”

Chris Pincher: a senior official claims Boris Johnson knew about allegations of sexual misconduct against the disgraced MP in 2019