The foreign secretary has said it was worrying that “appalling” allegations were again being made about a parliamentarian – after a Tory MP was arrested for rape.

Liz Truss made the comments to Sky News’s Kay Burley a day after the Met Police said the man, aged in his 50s, had been held on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office.

He has now been released on bail.

The MP, who has not been named, has been asked by the Tory chief whip to stay away from parliament while the probe continues.

Ms Truss said: “I’m very, very concerned about the reports that I have heard. Clearly this is a matter for the police.

“It is worrying that we are seeing these appalling accusations again about a parliamentarian.”

Last month, Imran Ahmad Khan resigned as an MP after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.

The Sunday Times has reported that 56 MPs face allegations ranging from making sexually inappropriate comments to more serious wrongdoing.

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