Rape row

Ken Clarke faced calls for his resignation after he suggested that some categories were more "serious" than others.

The justice secretary was defending plans that could see rapist jail sentences halved if they plead guilty before trial, thereby sparing the victim the ordeal of having to relive the experience in court.

But a radio interview in which he spoke of "proper, serious" rape prompted an extraordinary media outrage and led to calls for his resignation from Ed Miliband, Labour leader.

Women's rights groups and victims groups were also extremely critical of the justice secretary's comments, saying he was not treating the subject with the seriousness it deserves.