He continued: “The fact of the arrest requires a formal notification of the speaker and then my chief whip. I have now been interviewed twice in connection with this incident, the first time three weeks ago, when I initially reported my concern over extortion. The second time was earlier this morning under caution following arrest.”

Blunt added that he will “cooperate fully” with the ongoing investigation and is “confident” that he will not be charged.

The Conservative Party said it would not comment on the arrest as there is a live police investigation, but Blunt had the whip suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation and has been asked to stay away from the parliamentary estate.

Senior Tory MP Crispin Blunt has been arrested on suspicion of rape