THE Tory establishment last night distanced itself from the backbencher Mr Jerry Hayes, after claims by a Sunday newspaper that the married father of two had a homosexual relationship with a Tory researcher in the early 90s.
The allegations against Mr Hayes threaten to overshadow Mr John Major's general election campaign just days after he pledged to put the family high on his election agenda.
Yesterday, Conservative Central Office pointedly refused to support Mr Hayes, insisting his late as an MP lay in the hands of his local constituency association.
Mr Hayes has a majority of just 2,940 in the seat, which he has held since June 1983.
The News of the World claimed that Mr Hayes, (43), had a 16 month relationship with 18 year old researcher, Mr Paul Stone, now aged 24.
Yesterday Mr Hayes said: "I emphatically deny the story in the News of the World which is without substance or foundation and I am consulting with my solicitors to take action.
Questioned on the BBC's Breakfast with Frost, the Prime Minister said: "I don't know the truth of the story. The story has been denied and the matter has been put in the hands of lawyers. So I think it would be prudent to say no more about that."
Some of Mr Hayes's Tory colleagues said privately they thought he had acted stupidly, but none was calling for his resignation.
Mr Tony Marlow who has expressed strongly anti homosexual views in the Commons, also said it was "a matter for the lawyers".
Ms Edwina Currie rallied to his support.
"This is between him and his wife", she said.
Mr David Roberts, chairman, of the Harlow Conservative Association - which has the right to decide whether to force a deselection of Mr Hayes - appeared to support him at this stage.
He said it was not true and until I have had a chance to meet him face to face then I am prepared to believe him," he said.
The constituency association would discuss the matter at its next executive meeting, he added.
For Labour, Mr John Prescott, the deputy leader, said: "I said a couple of days ago that John Major's new push on family values was bound to end in tears and it has."
Mr Peter Tatchell, spokesman for the homosexual reform group Outrage, said last night: "The exposure of Jerry Hayes is impossible to justify in terms of the public interest . . . His private behaviour is consistent with his public pronouncements. The real hypocrites who should be outed are the 15 MPs who voted either against an equal age of consent or in favour of the continued exclusion of lesbians and gays from the military".
He said Outrage was still working on its campaign to out Tory and unionist anti gay MPs, including two Cabinet ministers.