Andrew Bridgen: MP claims he was slapped on the head in Portcullis House

Leicestershire North West MP Andrew Bridgen has reported a fellow member to parliamentary authorities for allegedly slapping him on the back of the head.

Mr Bridgen, who joined the Reclaim Party after being kicked out of the Conservatives, demanded that Tory Crispin Blunt apologises for the "chop" in Parliament on Monday.

When asked about the reports, Mr Blunt said the allegation was "not correct".

Parliamentary officials confirmed they were aware of an incident.

The alleged slap is said to have taken place in the atrium of Portcullis House.

Mr Bridgen also claimed the Reigate MP called him a "bastard".

He told the PA news agency he believed the incident was "completely unprovoked", apart from him having questioned to a newspaper why he had the whip removed by the Tories but Mr Blunt had not for past comments about Hamas.

Asked about reports that he had slapped Mr Bridgen round the head and sworn at him, Mr Blunt told the BBC it was "not correct" and that he had "spoken briefly" to Mr Bridgen in the Chamber to "try and understand what he thought happened that led to his report".

Mr Blunt said he did not intend to take matters further.

Mr Bridgen said he was not injured in the incident and claimed a "number of witnesses" who saw the incident had spoken to Parliament's authorities after he reported it to security.

He told the PA news agency: "I was sitting at one of the round tables in Portcullis House and he went by the back of me and hit me on the back of the head with his hand and said, 'You're a bastard' and then legged it off.

"I was just completely shocked. That's not the behaviour you would expect from a Member of Parliament.

"I'm asking for an apology, it's just unbelievable behaviour."

A Parliamentary spokesperson said: "The Behaviour Code makes clear the standards of behaviour expected of everyone in Parliament - whether MPs, staff, members' staff, members of the House of Lords, press, contractors or visitors.

"There is zero tolerance for abuse or harassment."