She concluded: “I have many things that I want to achieve in politics, not least my campaigns on human rights and genocide, and I am deeply disappointed that it has come to this.”

Now was “not the time” that Ms Ghani would have chosen for the information to emerge, she added. 

It comes after a torrid few weeks for the Conservatives, marred by allegations of parties during coronavirus lockdowns and infighting over Mr Johnson’s leadership.

Mark Spencer, the Chief Whip, identified himself as the whip at the centre of Ms Ghani’s allegations, which he categorically denied.

He wrote on social media late on Saturday night that the allegations were “completely false and I consider them to be defamatory”.

“I have never used those words attributed to me,” he tweeted. “I provided evidence to the Singh Investigation into Islamophobia which concluded that there was no credible basis for the claims to be included in the report.”

Frontbenchers wade into row

Sajid Javid waded in on Sunday afternoon, describing Ms Ghani as “a friend a credit to a Conservative party”.

The Health Secretary proceeded to echo demands from Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary, for an investigation into Ms Ghani’s allegations.

“Nus Ghani is a friend, a colleague and a brilliant parliamentarian. This has to be investigated properly and racism [rooted] out,” Mr Zahawi said.

Caroline Nokes, the Tory MP for Romsey and Southampton North, described Ms Ghani’s allegations as “appalling”, while Lord Sheikh of Cornhill, the president of the Conservative Muslim Forum, told Times Radio that he was “horrified to hear that she was sacked because of her faith”.