Boris Johnson's new Commons aide denounced Tory foreign aid cuts to a constituent - but later claimed it was a mistake.
Tory MP Joy Morrissey was appointed as the Prime Minister's parliamentary private secretary (PPS) in last week's mini-reshuffle as Mr Johnson tries to shore up his battered premiership.
It has now emerged that Ms Morrissey criticised the PM's manifesto-busting cut to the UK's foreign aid budget.
Writing on Commons notepaper, Ms Morrissey told a voter in her Beaconsfield constituency that the cut would have a “massive impact” on the world’s poorest, according to the Daily Mail.
Last year, MPs voted to slash UK aid spending from 0.7% to 0.5% despite a manifesto pledge - which equates to a cut of around £4billion on cash for the world's poorest.
The move was criticised by a string of Tory grandees, including ex-PMs Theresa May, David Cameron and Sir John Major.
Ms Morrissey, who was a PPS to the Foreign Office at the time, told a constituent in October: "I think cutting back on our commitments now, as President of the G7, whilst other G7 nations such as France and Germany increase theirs, sends completely the wrong message.
"The pandemic, which risks erasing decades of global progress, makes it more essential than ever for the UK to step up, not back."
The Tory MP initially suggested the letter was fake - despite it bearing her signature - before blaming it on an administrative error.
It is understood a template letter arguing against the cut was used by accident.
A spokesman for Ms Morrissey said: “The letter in question was regrettably sent to said constituent in error.
"Joy fully supports the Government’s foreign policy and its cut in the foreign aid budget.
"As soon as we became aware of this error we attempted to reach out to the constituent but sadly only have their mailing address.
"The correct letter was dispatched to the constituent as soon as we became aware of the error."
Ms Morrissey, who won her seat from former attorney general Dominic Grieve in 2019, previously hit the headlines for her career in low-budget films.
Her role in comedy 'bonk fest' Geek Mythology in 2008 saw her ride a man like a pantomime horse in a racy scene.
After being elected to Parliament, she mounted a campaign for a portrait of the Queen in “in every home, company and institution that would like one.”
Ms Morrissey also went on a Twitter rant against Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty over Covid guidance before Christmas.
As concern mounted over the Omicron variant, she suggested Prof Chris Whitty should “defer to ELECTED MPs” after he recommended “de-prioritising” some social events.
In a now-deleted tweet, Ms Morrissey said: “That's how democracy works. This is not a public health socialist state."
No 10 promptly slapped her down. The PM's spokesman said: "Prof Whitty is a hugely respected and trusted public servant who provides independent evidence-based advice."
