Baroness Michelle Mone has said she has “no wish to return to the Lords as a Conservative peer” in a bitter war of words with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
Lady Mone accused the Conservative leader of using “inflammatory” and “reckless” language that could prejudice a police investigation into her role in the awarding of PPE contracts.
The attack came a day after Ms Badenoch told BBC local radio that Lady Mone had brought "embarrassment and shame to the party", and should have the "book thrown at her".
The Conservatives, who suspended the whip from the baroness in December 2022, have also called on her to exit the House of Lords.
The war of words comes after a company linked to Lady Mone was ordered to repay millions of pounds for breaching a Covid-19 PPE contract.
PPE Medpro was ordered to pay back nearly £122 million to the Government after it was found to have breached a contract to supply surgical gowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a letter to Mrs Badenoch on Friday, Lady Mone said there "seems to be a bit of amnesia" about her loss of the Conservative whip, stating that she had "removed it myself by taking a leave of absence".
She continued: "However, you will be pleased to hear that once I do clear my name, I have no wish to return to the Lords as a Conservative peer; that's assuming there still is a Conservative Party before the next general election."
Lady Mone also said in the letter to Ms Badenoch that she was "shocked to the core to read about your inflammatory language" during the Tory leader's appearance on BBC radio.
The businesswoman later said that the previous Conservative government "knew of my involvement from the outset and welcomed my assistance at a time of national emergency" and that she had not acted differently from other politicians who had referred companies.
She continued: "So Kemi, my role was exactly the same as all other Conservative MPs and peers who were trying to help provide PPE.
"Like me, they would all have acted as liaisons and conduits between the company and the government and would have worked hard to ensure that contracts got over the line and through the red tape that was still present in obtaining contract awards at a time of national emergency.
"So, on the above basis, if I have done wrong then so have all the others in the VIP lane. In which case, you should be calling out for them to resign as well. That's if you manage to work out what it is they are supposed to have done wrong."
Lady Mone later said she had "never received a penny from PPE Medpro".
The Conservative Party has been contacted for comment.
