“I WAS wrong, and I am sorry for the poor choices I have made.”

The words of health minister Ivan Lewis, whose phone texts to a young female member of his staff led her to quit her job in his private Whitehall office.

The Bury South MP insisted that none of his ‘personal’ texts to the 24-year-old were rude or lewd, but apologised unreservedly for his conduct.

The woman made no formal complaint against the minister, but asked to leave his office and was given another job in the Department of Health.

She subsequently left for employment elsewhere.

Mr Lewis, who came to power in Labour’s landslide in 1997, told the Bury Times that there was no question of him resigning: and he thanked people for their messages of support since the story broke in the national press at the weekend.

“I issued a public apology because, 16 months ago, a member of staff in my ministerial office reached a point where she felt our working relationship was no longer sustainable,” he said.

“I had been wrong to send her a number of text messages of a personal rather than professional nature and that is why saying sorry was the right thing for me to do.

“As has been confirmed, there were no lewd or rude text messages or comments. In accordance with the member of staff’s wishes, no formal complaint was made against me and the matter was resolved in a professional and sensitive way.

“She asked to leave my office and accepted another appropriate job. 16 months later it came as an unwelcome shock to all concerned that this was to become a public issue.”

This the latest personal problem to hit Mr Lewis, who is now divorced from his wife Juliette. Two years ago he also hit the headlines for reportedly having a relationship with former Labour councillor Maggie Gibb.

Mr Lewis added: “I accept that I have to take responsibility for my actions. I also have a right to fairness in any judgements which are made.

“Like everyone else I have made mistakes in my life. However, from my teenage years, I have spent my life trying to make a positive difference as a public servant in the pursuit of a better society.

“It remains a tremendous privilege to serve the people of my hometown constituency. I am proud I have always stood up for our community.

“I am proud to have a ministerial role where I can fight for those whose voices are too often ignored: carers, older people, people with dementia, people with learning disabilities and people with mental health problems.”

Sources have suggested that the minister is being smeared by people from within the party, following Mr Lewis’s outspoken criticism of the Government following this year’s local elections.

“The MP declined to comment on these reports. He added: “I am sorry that I have made some poor choices and regret the impact they have had on other people. I intend to get on with my work and continue to make a positive difference in the future.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “In 2007 a member of staff in the private office of Ivan Lewis informed her managers that she was unhappy with the nature of her working relationship with the minister.

“The situation was handled professionally and sensitively in full accordance with the employee’s wishes. She raised no formal complaint and all the acton to resolve the matter were agreed with her.”