David Cameron backs woman in Tory affair

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The Tory leader gave his personal endorsement to Elizabeth Truss, who will fight for her political life at an emergency meeting tonight.

On Saturday, Tories in South West Norfolk picked the mother-of-two, 34, to fight the next election. But hours later they reacted furiously to media reports of a fling she had with London Tory MP Mark Field five years ago.

The affair was known about at Westminster but locals were apparently unaware.

She has been nicknamed "MisTress" and "MisTrust" by opponents.

A spokesman for Mr Cameron said: "She has the full support of the national party.

She was selected at the first ballot with more than half of the vote, and is clearly an outstanding candidate. We stand by her."

But a senior local Tory said: "She should fall on her sword for the sake of the association and the party."

Now, her opponents have seized on her previous membership of the Liberal Democrats — she was president of the Oxford University Lib-Dems in 1995.

Mr Cameron is determined to protect the A-list high-flier because her sacking would cast a shadow over his pledge to get more women in Parliament.

He is embroiled in a struggle against traditionalists who object to a plans for all-women shortlists.