Senior Tories demand party inquiry into claims of cover up over MP rape allegations

PM and chair Greg Hands under pressure to act – as ‘rot’ at heart of party blamed for years of failure over misconduct claims

Senior Conservatives have called for an internal investigation into claims the party covered up allegations of rape against one of its MPs.

Ex-cabinet minister David Davis and other senior Tories told The Independent that Tory chair Greg Hands should investigate claims that his predecessor Sir Jake Berry told police of the party’s “failure” to act on the allegations.

Mr Davis warned that any cover-up would be “a criminal offence”, amid claims that Tory lawyers had covered the cost of treatment for one of the alleged victims at a private hospital.