Scotland Yard is assessing a complaint alleging that the Conservative Party has been embroiled in a cash for peerages scandal, it has confirmed.

       It follows claims that 15 of the last 16 Tory treasurers had been offered a seat in the House of Lords after each donating more than ￡3 million to the party, amid other allegations of sleaze against the Tory Party.

       Following allegations that appeared in the press over the weekend, Pete Wishart, the SNP MP, said he had written to Dame Cressida Dick, the Met Commissioner, to demand an investigation.

       A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "The MPS has received correspondence relating to recent media reports concerning the awarding of peerages. At this time, we are considering the contents of the correspondence."

       Defending the Tories, Cabinet minister George Eustice said the award of peerages for former treasurers was recognition of the valuable expertise they brought to the upper chamber.

       He said: "They are philanthropists who give huge amounts to charity, who have been successful in business and therefore on those grounds ought to be considered for the Lords."

       The claims were first reported in the Sunday Times and raised in Parliament by SNP MP Pete Wishart.

       Mr Wishart said he was "not accusing anyone of anything" in asking the Met to investigate allegations that Tory donors had been given seats in the upper chamber.

       He told Sky News: "What we've done in the course of the past few days is the Pandora's box marked Tory sleaze has been opened for full examination, and what a rotten septic cesspit we found that to be."

       But Dominic Raab insisted there was "absolutely no question" of the Government being involved in a cash for honours scandal.

       The Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister said opposition parties were making "political points" by asking police to investigate, following reports that Tory donors who had given more than ￡3 million to the party had been elevated to the Lords.

       He told Sky News no-one was suggesting any wronging in regard to political donations.

       Mr Raab added: "In relation to becoming appointed to the House of Lords, there's also very clear rules.

       "I would just say that, of course, people who are entrepreneurs but also engaged in public service, whether that's charities, whether that's supporting political parties, do a public service.