A Conservative MP and former minister has been arrested after being accused of rape, sexual assault and coercive control.

The allegations come from a woman in her twenties who worked in parliament.

The MP, said to be in his fifties, was released on bail.

A Metropolitan police spokesperson confirmed an investigation had started into four alleged incidents between July 2019 and January 2020.

It’s claimed the instances happened at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney.

The Met said: “On Friday, 31 July, the Metropolitan police service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault.

“The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations.

“A man was arrested on suspicion of rape.”

The Met said it was not making any statement about the man’s occupation.

The Sunday Times reported the MP is alleged to have forced the woman to have sex.

It said she was “traumatised” and had to go to hospital.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

“As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The newspaper reported the Conservative Party’s chief whip, Mark Spencer, and Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, had known of the allegations.

Both men spoke to the woman concerned a month ago.

A spokesman for Mr Spencer said:

“The chief whip takes all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and has strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities, including parliament’s independent complaints and grievance scheme.”