MARK Garnier, the Trade Secretary at the centre of the current Westminster sexual harassment witch hunt, served as a Forest of Dean District Councillor for Tidenham from 2003-2007.

The Charterhouse educated former investment banker has admitted giving his secretary Caroline Endmundson cash to buy sex toys and calling her ‘sugart*ts’, but denies this constituted sexual harassment.

However, he is now to face an investigation by the Cabinet Office into whether he broke ministerial rules.

The scandal comes at a time when the prime minister wrote to Commons Speaker John Bercow, calling for a new contractually-binding grievance procedure to be set up for all MPs and their staff.

Mrs May also asked Mr Bercow for his advice on how the culture at Westminster can be changed. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn backed her call for reforms.

Mr Garnier’s former secretary, Caroline Edmondson, told the Mail on Sunday he had given her money to buy two vibrators at a Soho sex shop.

The Mail reported that Mr Garnier had admitted the claims, saying: "I’m not going to deny it, because I’m not going to be dishonest. I’m going to have to take it on the chin."

Mr Garnier, 53, gave up his seat on Forest of Dean District Council in 2007 to concentrate on his Westminster political career, being returned as Conservative MP for Wyre Forest in Worcestershire in 2010.