Southend West MP Sir David Amess has said his staff won’t be disciplined after controversial views on disgraced film director Harvey Weinstein were issued by his office.

Sir David said a press release appearing to support Mr Weinstein, who is alleged to have carried out a number of sexual assaults on actresses, was a mistake.

The MP issued a clarification on Friday, saying the release had not been sanctioned by him - and did not represent his views.

Despite this, no heads are set to roll. Sir David said: “ I take responsibility for the running of my office, who I think serve myself and my constituents very well as letters of appreciation demonstrate. Everyone is allowed one mistake, even if this was a big one.”

Sir David added: “Someone had put together a draft press release which was worded in such an unfortunate way that the very opposite of my views seemed to be expressed.

“Quite simply if I had seen the draft it would never have been sent out. The correct press release represents my views.”

Following the blunder, Southend Labour’s Ashley Dalton said: “It would seem highly irregular that a member of Sir David Amess’s team would send a press release on a matter not immediately relevant to the constituency and with quotes purporting to be Sir David’s personal views on the matter off their own back. In any event, he has chosen to shirk responsibility and instead point the finger at his own staff.

“Perhaps Sir David does not have the necessary authority to run his own office effectively or perhaps this is an equally clumsy climb down in the face of the outrage and disapproval.”

In response, Sir David said: “I am appalled that my integrity has been impugned. It certainly was the case that I had wanted to issue a press release to national newspapers expressing my view that it is an absolute tragedy that women who have been abused, for whatever reason, do not have the confidence to report the incidents.

“I was not in my office on Friday when the press release was issued or indeed in my office over the weekend. However, as soon as someone brought to my attention what had happened, I acted immediately.”