MP Row: Nadine Dorries Attacks Louise Mensch

Conservative MP Louise Mensch has been accused of undermining women politicians by her outspoken colleague Nadine Dorries.

Two of the most vocal women in the Conservative Party clashed after Ms Mensch weighed into the furore over naked pictures of Prince Harry.

In a blog defending Harry on the Conservative Home website , Ms Dorries criticised Ms Mensch and accused her of ruthless ambition and sycophancy.

She mocked the MP for Corby's decision earlier this month to resign for the sake of her family as she described her as "void of principle".

She also condemned as "stomach-turning" the moment Ms Mensch told then-BSkyB chairman James Murdoch she would have to leave a committee hearing early to pick up her children.

Ms Dorries wrote: "She is a former MP who has resigned midterm, supposedly for the sake of her family and has, without doubt, handed her seat to Labour.

"A pill very hard for some to swallow when she appears on her social media site and Twitter by the minute and has no problem leaving her family, popping up on the media on a regular basis, even to condemn Prince Harry."

She continued: "One of the most unprofessional and undignified comments ever heard in a select committee hearing was when Louise Mensch announced that she had to leave a crucial, televised hearing involving the Murdochs, in order to do the school run.

"As she left she schmoozed to James Murdoch, in the witness chair at the time, 'I believe we have children the same age.'

"This was stomach-turning for female MPs, who act in a professional manner in order not to be judged lacking against our male peers, knowing that hell would freeze over before any male MP would behave in the same way."

The MP for mid-Bedfordshire, who has three grown-up daughters, claimed Ms Mensch "has always put her own ambitions first".

"She has spent her entire time in Parliament void of principle, as an ultimate loyalist 'Cameroon', regardless of the issues, and then commented in frustration, 'What do I have to do to get promoted?'"

Ms Mensch brushed off the attack, writing on Twitter: "Waking up to find self on the Nadine Dorries naughty step which is a pity as I spend my entire time worrying about what she thinks. (ahem)."

Fellow Tory Glyn Davies commented: "Nadine Dorries and Louise Mensch launching into a full-on internet fight. Must admit I wouldn't fancy getting on the wrong side of either."

Ms Mensch announced this month that she is quitting after two years in Parliament because she has decided to move to New York for family reasons.

David Cameron had already allowed her to work from her constituency on Thursday as well as Friday, so that she could spend more time with her three young children.

Her departure is a headache for the Prime Minister, leaving him facing a by-election later this year that Labour are expected to win after narrowly losing in 2010.

Backbencher Ms Dorries has previously courted controversy by calling Mr Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne "arrogant posh boys".