An investigation is to be launched into messages sent to a female Conservative MP by a colleague branding her a “disgrace” and telling her to leave the party.

Antoinette Sandbach, who backed Rory Stewart in the leadership campaign and opposes a no-deal Brexit, shared a screenshot of WhatsApp posts she said had been sent to her by a male MP.

It comes as Conservative MPs voted for Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to go head-to-head in the battle to be the next prime minister.

The phone messages, shared by Ms Sandbach in a subsequently deleted tweet, read: “You too are a disgrace. Time you left the party I think.”

In an accompanying post, Ms Sandbach wrote: “Barely is the ink dry on the results and the dark ops begin.

“This is from a male Conservative MP to me as I sat on the train home.”

The Tory backbencher also tweeted: “It’s bad enough when you get it from complete strangers. Is it any wonder three female MPs left.”

Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen quit the party in February to join Change UK, arguing “the hardline anti-EU awkward squad” was now running the party.

Ms Sandbach who represents the Cheshire seat of Eddisbury has been sent public messages of support by Mr Hunt and the party’s chief whip Julian Smith, who condemned them as “totally unacceptable” and promised to investigate. Mr Smith also thanked her for supporting the government’s Brexit deal three times in parliament.

Mr Hunt, who will face Mr Johnson in a vote by Tory members, branded the messages “wrong”. He retweeted Ms Sandbach’s message with a note of support, saying: “This is so wrong! We have to come together as a party.”

Mr Smith also retweeted Ms Sandbach and said an investigation would be launched and thanked her for her loyalty over the government’s Brexit deal. He said: “Totally unacceptable – will investigate & meet Monday.

“Thank you for supporting the Withdrawal Agreement three times & for your support of HMG.”

Ms Sandbach said she had made an official complaint. She said: “I have made a complaint to chief whip and will get it dealt with internally.”

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