Instances of sexual misconduct are damaging the reputation of the Tory party, Moorlands MP Karen Bradley has said in a letter to the chief whip, Chris Heaton-Harris.

It comes after fellow Conservative MP Chris Pincher was suspended after allegedly groping two men in a private members' club.

We also reported recently how Mrs Bradley said the culture of Parliament has to change after Neil Parish, the Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton, resigned after admitting he watched porn twice in the House of Commons.

In a joint letter with Caroline Nokes MP, Mrs Bradley said that an "inconsistent and unclear approach" was being taken to misconduct and urged the chief whip to "employ a policy of zero tolerance".

The full letter can be read below:

We write as the only two Conservative female Select Committee Chairs, and as senior Parliamentarians deeply concerned that standards of behaviour are upheld across the House.

Recent incidents have demonstrated an inconsistent and unclear approach by the Party to instances of sexual misconduct. The Party and, by extension, the Government are at risk of serious reputational damage by the current approach. We urge you to act swiftly to introduce a code of conduct for all Conservative Members of Parliament which is clear in terms of the expectations of behaviour and which can be applied in a fair, independent manner so as to avoid any suspicion of bias.

In the meantime we ask that you employ a policy of zero tolerance on these issues and to ensure a thorough investigation is carried out in each and every case. Once an investigation has been completed. a decision should be taken about returning the whip. but in the meantime, anyone subject to such an investigation should not be allowed to sit as a Conservative MP and represent the party in any capacity.

We understand the need for discretion where an allegation is being investigated by the police but would ask that you properly police your request for those involved in such investigations to stay away from Parliament. including not using their proxy votes in Party votes.