‘Time to go’ for Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps, says Bassetlaw MP John Mann

Mr Shapps was a web marketeer and writer before becoming an MP but national newspaper The Guardian has obtained a recording of him in 2006, using the pseudonym Michael Green, making a sales pitch for his old firm.

He had previously said his writing career ended when he took up a seat in the House of Commons.

The party has now accepted for the first time that Mr Shapps carried on his writing career under the name Michael Green.

Last night, Mr Shapps tweeted: “Old story. All properly declared at the time and all many years ago. Labour just hate business.”

On Monday 16th March, Mr Mann said on Twitter: “4 June 2005 and 16 March 2015 Shapps says he is full time MP, not working for his old business. In 2006 he is caught doing so. Time to go.”

MPs have to declare any paid employment outside Parliament but there are no rules banning MPs from having other sources of employment.