Damian Green denies accusations of inappropriate behaviour towards Tory activist 30 years his junior

THERESA May’s deputy Damian Green was accused last night of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman 30 years his junior.

The PM has referred deputy Prime Minister Damian Green to the Cabinet Secretary for investigation after Kate Maltby, a Tory activist and academic, said he had made a pass on her in a bar - and flirted with her over text.

In an article in The Times she said they had discussed her career - as well as sexual affairs in Parliament.

She claimed Mr Green had told her that his wife was "very understanding".

And Ms Maltby, 31, said he put "a fleeting hand against my knee - so brief, it was almost deniable".

It left her so "angry" that she ignored him for a year.

But after appearing in a corset in the newspaper to accompany an article about the history of the clothing, Ms Maltby received a text from Mr Green, who wrote: "Long time no see. But having admired you in a corset in my favourite tabloid I feel impelled to ask if you are free for a drink anytime?"

She said she ignored the message and only contacted Mr Green, 61, after he became a minister in Mrs May's new Cabinet on July 17 last year, congratulating him on his appointment.

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Mr Green denied any sexual advances against Ms Maltby and said the "untrue allegation has come as a complete shock and is deeply hurtful".

He said: "It is absolutely and completely untrue that I've ever made any sexual advances on Ms Maltby."

A Downing Street spokesman said: “An allegation has been made in relation to the first secretary of state, which he strongly denies.

"The prime minister has referred the matter to the cabinet secretary to establish the facts and report back as soon as possible.”