The allegations – made in the Royal Court by a Crown Advocate on Friday – have prompted an inquiry by ministers and the promise of a vote of no confidence from Deputy Geoff Southern.

Senator Le Main has told the JEP that he has done nothing wrong and that he and the property developer in question, Frank Venton, are not friends.

But he says that he will resign as Housing Minister if the inquiry announced by Chief Minister Terry Le Sueur on Saturday morning finds that he was at fault.