Homosexuality ends Tory's marriage

Crispin Blunt, the Tory MP and prisons minister, said there was nobody else involved and appealed for his family's privacy to be respected.

In a statement, his office said: "Crispin Blunt wishes to make it known that he has separated from his wife Victoria.

"He decided to come to terms with his homosexuality and explained the position to his family. The consequence is this separation.

"There is no third party involvement, but this is difficult for his immediate and wider family and he hopes for understanding and support for them.

"The family do not wish to make any further public comment and hope that their privacy will be respected as they deal with these difficult private issues."

Mr Blunt, 50, has been the Conservative MP for Reigate since 1997. He and his wife were married in 1990 and have one son and one daughter.

He was slapped down by Downing Street last month after saying he was lifting a ban on arts events like comedy workshops and fancy dress parties in jails. Number 10 overruled him the following day, ordering that there would be no such parties.

Forwarding his media statement to MP colleagues, Mr Blunt said his family had been "extraordinarily understanding".

"I know colleagues will appreciate the personal sensitivity of this, particularly for my family, who have been extraordinarily understanding," he said in an email.