A heated row broke out between Alastair Campbell and Camilla Tominey over the ongoing accusations of sleaze leveraged against the Conservative Party. Ms Tominey called the idea that the former Labour spin-doctor lecturing anyone on sleaze “laughable”, while Mr Campbell urged for more Tory MPs to stand up to Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister is embroiled in a fresh sleaze row after attempts to save Owen Paterson from being suspended from the Commons.

       Mr Campbell said in response: “Well, first of all, I would say that that was a nice little piece of what-about which is what you people on the right tend to do.

       “Now, if we want to talk about anything to do with the Labour government record and my role within it, I'm happy to do that.

       “And I would argue, for example, you deliberately use the little word ‘dodgy’ six inquiries into Iraq, cleared of all of them.

       “On this, we're talking about standards in public life."

       No. 10 has been branded "corrupt and sleazy" in the wake of the Owen Paterson row after Boris Johnson ordered Tory MPs to block a 30-day suspension for the former Environment Secretary and vote to tear up Commons standards rules.

       Mr Paterson was found to have misused his position as an MP to lobby for two private firms.

       He has now resigned.

       The accusations were further exacerbated after an investigation by The Sunday Times found wealthy benefactors appear to be granted seats in the House of Lords if they take on the temporary role as the party treasurer and make donations beyond ￡3 million.