The Tory minister denied reports he verbally abused the policeman in a row over whether he should be allowed to ride his bicycle out of Downing Street. But he was given a public dressing down by Prime Minister David Cameron during a visit to Manchester, where two PCs were killed on Tuesday.

Last night Metropolitan Police Federation chairman John Tully said he believed the allegations were accurate. He said: "He should resign. As a Cabinet minister it's unacceptable for someone of his standing to use such disrespectful and abusive language to a police constable, let alone anyone else."

Meanwhile, Dale Cregan, 29, appeared in court charged with the murders of PC Nicola Hughes, 23, and PC Fiona Bone, 32 – who grew up in Scotland – in an attack in Hattersley, Tameside.