David Cameron will pledge to do more to challenge sexual violence against women today, saying that England has the poorest conviction rate for rape of any leading European country.

In a speech to the Conservative Women’s Organisation conference, he will say that there is a conviction for just 15 in every thousand cases of rape.

The Tory leader will highlight findings in the British Crime Survey that one in 20 adult women in Britain has been raped, yet a Government report estimated that at least 75 per cent were not reported to police. Of those that are, 5.7 per cent of cases result in a conviction.

Mr Cameron will tell the conference: “How can any civilised country, that sees the sanctity of consent to sex as a vital right for every woman, accept these facts?”

Mr Cameron will announce plans to change sex education in secondary schools, with greater emphasis on the importance of consent. He will also promise to review sentencing policy for rapists, to examine whether tougher sentencing policy is needed.

Labour responded aggressively last night to the Conservatives’ attempt to broaden their appeal to women voters.

Harriet Harman, the deputy leader of Labour, said that Theresa May, the Conservatives’ spokesman for women, had voted against the minimum wage, which has benefited many working women, and that the Tories failed to support increased maternity leave.

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