Demanding an apology: Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty

Female MPs from across the political spectrum have urged the Culture Secretary to apologise to a civil liberties campaigner over 'smears' about her relationship with Tory David Davis.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, was appalled by Andy Burnham's claim that she shared ' late night, hand-wringing, heart-melting phone calls' with Mr Davis as they opposed the Government's anti-terror plans.

She has written to Mr Burnham, accusing him of 'innuendo and attempted character assassination', and demanding a full, written apology.

Senior backbenchers from all three main parties urged Mr Burnham to give her the apology she would like. The Culture Secretary, who has been tipped as a future Prime Minister, has stated his 'regret' and is said to be 'aghast' at the row caused by his comments, which aides say were meant in jest.

But Miss Chakrabarti, who is happily married, is still threatening a libel action, which could jeopardise Mr Burnham's Cabinet post.

Her spokesman said of his statement: 'That's not an apology, in her view.'

Female MPs have lined up to support her. Linda Riordan, Labour member for Halifax, said: 'I don't think there is any need for that sort of comment whoever it is from. Shami is a professional woman. He should apologise.'

Eleanor Laing, the Tory justice spokesman, said she supports Miss Chakrabarti's stance. 'What makes me so angry is that this sort of innuendo undermines women in positions of power and influence.

'If the director of Liberty had been a man, would Andy Burnham have said it? When senior ministers behave in this way, then it debases the whole of politics.'

The Labour MP for Morecambe, Geraldine Smith, said: 'People shouldn't make allegations or suggestions unless they can substantiate them  -  and just because a man talks to a woman it doesn't mean she's having an affair.'

Diane Abbott, Labour MP for Hackney North, said: 'I am extremely disappointed in Andy Burnham. I thought the Labour Party had left these sort of politics behind.'

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Susan Kramer, the LibDems' families spokesman, said: 'Every time a young woman starts to make some real headway and impact in the world of politics these kinds of rumours start to circulate. It is so destructive.

'I find it deeply offensive and it should be beneath a member of the Cabinet.'

Lynne Jones, Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, said: 'If Government ministers are putting out this kind of innuendo, it's not to be welcomed.' Tory MP Justine Greening said: 'Shami has worked with MPs of all parties to raise the concerns she has. She is completely driven, but incredibly professional.'

Miss Chakrabarti, 39, who has been married for 13 years, wrote to Mr Burnham on Thursday demanding he issues a written apology for his remarks to her, and to Mr Davis's wife of 35 years, Doreen.

The letter was copied to the Prime Minister and the Attorney General.

She had discussed anti-terror legislation and civil liberties with Mr Davis in the run-up to a crunch Commons vote last week.

The former shadow Home Secretary resigned from the Tory front bench and as an MP to force a by-election in protest at Labour plans for 42 days detention without charge.

Mr Davis told the BBC's Question Time programme that he did not expect David Cameron to ask him to rejoin the shadow cabinet if, as expected, he wins the election in East Yorkshire on July 10.

'I doubt I will be invited,' he said. 'I made a calculation before I did this that it could cost me certain things. One was my career in the cabinet.'

But he added: 'If I was given my job back, I think I would take it.'

Mr Davis has also attacked Mr Burnham for 'personal smears and lies'. A spokesman for the Culture Secretary said: 'Andy Burnham was making a political point about David Davis's inconsistent views on capital punishment and civil liberties. An interpretation has been placed on Andy's remarks that he did not intend.

'His comments related to politics and nothing else. He regrets if any personal offence has been caused.'

At Westminster, there was speculation that offering an unreserved apology might constitute admitting a libel.

Meanwhile, Commons leader Harriet Harman insisted that Miss Chakrabarti should never have allied herself to Mr Davis.

Miss Harman, a former legal officer at Liberty, said: 'He's an unlikely champion of civil liberties and certainly when I was at Liberty, I did not support people who opposed the Human Rights Act and were in favour of the death penalty.'

David Davis (left) was described by Andy Burnham as sharing 'heart-melting' phone calls with Ms Chakrabarti over 42-day terror detention plans