Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, commenting on the Cabinet Secretary’s response to Anne Main’s letter said:

“There are serious questions to answer for the Prime Minister, not least why he is so insistent on sweeping this matter under the carpet when there is clear evidence that one of his Cabinet Ministers has behaved at best hugely inappropriately.

"The Cabinet  Secretary has confirmed that Theresa Villiers did receive an email seeking to influence this planning case but that her attempts ultimately failed. Being ineffectual in attempted wrongdoing is no defense.

"It is not enough for David Cameron to hide behind the Ministerial Code by simply saying he there have been no breaches - we need to know exactly how he came to this decision. This is particularly important given the Cabinet Secretary merely notes that the Code was strengthened in October 2011 rather than whether the past or existing Codes were breached.

"David Cameron once said sunlight was the best disinfectant. He urgently needs to live up to his words and answer the questions which continue to linger around the conduct of one of his ministers.”