Calls are mounting for a criminal probe into Gavin Williamson after the Defence Secretary was sacked over a major national security leak.

Labour , the Lib Dems, SNP and Mr Williamson himself all demanded Scotland Yard investigate whether he broke the Official Secrets Act.

Downing Street claimed the matter was closed last night after he became the first Cabinet minister sacked in a leak inquiry for more than 30 years.

Yet tarantula-owning Mr Williamson said he'd been "screwed", swore on his children's lives he was not responsible – and claimed a police inquiry would "exonerate" him.

And Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson today ramped up calls for a criminal probe – saying: "He is denying it and he has the right to clear his name."

The calls ramp up pressure on Theresa May to U-turn and release the supposed "compelling" evidence that she used to sack her Ministry of Defence chief.

The ex-Defence Secretary, Chief Whip and bag-carrier to David Cameron, a once-loyal ally who ran Theresa May's leadership bid, was ditched after a 30-minute meeting with the Prime Minister in her Commons office last night.

He is said to have had an 11-minute phone call with a Daily Telegraph journalist, hours before the paper revealed Chinese phone giant Huawei would be given a role building the UK's 5G network.

The leak came from the National Security Council – a top-secret body that hears from MI6 chiefs – amid fears the Chinese government could spy on the UK.

But while he has not denied having a phone call, Mr Williamson vehemently denied leaking any details of the National Security Council meeting.

Gavin Williamson could be jailed for up to two years if he were to be found guilty of breaching the Official Secrets Act.

In a brutal letter to Mr Williamson the Prime Minister said there was "compelling evidence" and he had not fully co-operated with police.

Yet there was no sign last night that Theresa May or her government had passed evidence to police.

Police say they must receive evidence before they can investigate – and there is speculation some of the information may not be admissable in court.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that it was a matter for the NSC and the Cabinet Office and it was not carrying out an investigation at this time.

"Clearly, if at any stage we receive any information that would suggest criminal offences have been committed, then we will look into that," it added.

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson told the BBC: "This is about the law applying equally and to everyone.

"We have had high-profile civil servants go to jail for breaching the Official Secrets Act.

"The logic of the Prime Minister's letter is she says she has compelling evidence that suggests he has done the same.

"He is denying it and he has the right to clear his name – the way to do that is a criminal inquiry if confidential information has leaked."

Tory former Attorney General Dominic Grieve said the leaker had "potentially" broken the law and "there's certainly an argument for it being referred to the police".

But he added it may have not been referred because the leaked details were of a general policy discussion, rather than specific secret information.

Former national security adviser Lord Ricketts told the BBC: "On the face of it, this is a breach of the Official Secrets Act. All the ministers and officials around the table will have signed that.

"So, it seems to me the police ought to be considering, is there a case to be considered there?

"It would be for the Director of Public Prosecutions to make the decisions, not ministers."

Mr Williamson was replaced by Penny Mordaunt, who becomes the first ever female Defence Secretary.

She was replaced as International Development Secretary by former justice minister Rory Stewart.

Mr Williamson protested his innocence in a string of interviews with the media last night.

He told Sky News it was “a witch hunt from the start" and "a kangaroo court with a summary execution”.

He told The Sun he would continue to insist his innocence "to my dying day" adding: "It’s the PM’s attempt at a show of strength.

"She can’t prove she’s strong on Brexit or the domestic agenda, so she has to do something like this."

And warning he will become a thorn in her side on the backbenches, he said: "I pointed out that I had saved her a couple of times, kept her as PM – a shame she didn’t recognise the fact."

The PM's spokesman said: "It is the duty of the Prime Minister to protect national security and the national security decision making process.

"A full and impartial investigation has been carried out."

Asked about whether Mr Williamson should now lose the Tory whip, a Downing Street spokesman said the Prime Minister considered the matter closed.

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