Nadine Dorries insisted it is “complete nonsense” that Boris Johnson will campaign for the Tories at the next general election.
The ex-prime minister will reportedly be deployed to Red Wall seats in a bid to turn around the party’s fortunes.
But Ms Dorries, who is a close ally of Mr Johnson, claimed there are “no plans” for any campaigning and that the article had been planted by No 10 following Lee Anderson’s defection to Reform UK.
The former culture secretary told Jeremy Vine on 5: “That story is absolute fiction.
“It says in the story that there’s a thawing of relations between Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson, that’s completely untrue. Rishi Sunak hasn’t spoken to Boris Johnson for over a year.
“There are no plans for any campaigning. That story has been strategically placed for a reason today and it’s to try and stop any other Conservative MP defecting to Reform.
“MPs have been calling out for Rishi Sunak to pick up the phone to Boris Johnson and obviously he hasn’t.
“I think you may hear more may be coming from Boris Johnson’s office today. But it is a complete nonsense.
“In that article it also says Rishi Sunak won’t be sharing a platform with Boris Johnson. Of course he wouldn’t because he’d be monstered, Boris Johnson would totally diminish him in every way.
“So I’m afraid that story has been placed by No 10, probably by Isaac Levido, for a very strategic reason.”
Ms Dorries’ comments come after The Times cited allies of Mr Johnson and senior Government sources as confirming he would play a key role in the general election campaign.
A source familiar with Mr Johnson’s thinking told the newspaper: “If there is a way he can help that is right for him and for the party he will.
“Sunak will of course be front and centre but he [Johnson] always wanted to take the fight to Starmer. Just as he has always supported the Conservative Party he will do so now.”
A Government source added: “Don’t expect Boris to appear on stage with Rishi — that’s not going to happen — but he is up for it. The relationship is in a fairly good place.”
Mr Johnson, who led the Tories to a landslide victory in 2019, has been at the centre of comeback speculation after being forced out of No 10 and quitting Parliament.
A spokesman for Johnson said: “Boris Johnson’s focus at the moment is writing and speaking and he is very productively engaged on that. His position has been consistently in support of the Conservative Party for his entire political life and that will remain so.”
