The Tories descended into open warfare as a veteran backbencher who blocked a U-turn on sleaze rules told a female Conservative to "apply her mind".
MPs groaned and muttered angrily as Sir Christopher Chope took a patronising tone with fellow Tory Alicia Kearns in a Commons debate over standards reforms.
On Monday, Sir Christopher infuriated Tory MPs by objecting to Boris Johnson's bid to quietly reverse his disastrous attempt to rewrite sleaze rules to save Conservative Owen Paterson from sanction.
His opposition meant MPs were dragged back to the chamber to debate the issue again on Tuesday, in fresh embarrassment for the PM.
Sir Christopher became notorious for obstructing a bill to make upskirting a specific crime in 2018, due to his long-held opposition to backbench legislation.
He has also blocked attempts to change the law around female genital mutilation, revenge evictions and banning wild animals in circuses.
Ms Kearns, the MP for Rutland and Melton, urged Sir Christopher to stop obstructing the move.
Speaking in the Commons, she said: "I recognise that he is keen to make sure that Parliament has it's time to have it's say.
"But we have almost four and half hours of debate on this issue already. Do our constituents not deserve us to focus on actually delivering on those promises we made to them and the things that matter to them?"
She demanded to know how long he wanted to debate the issue, adding: "When will it be enough?"
Mr Chope replied: "Should I express shock or outrage at what she has said? Clearly in the time she has been referring, she hasn't applied her mind to the principle issue..."
His comments immediately drew boos and groans from MPs.
Ms Kearns rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air in frustration.
Sir Christopher went on: "What happened on November 4 was that the Government usurped its power and said basically to this House what you decided yesterday no longer is of good effect."
Labour MP Jess Phillips said she found his tone was "unacceptable as a woman in these proceedings" - and said his tone had been "problematic in the past".
The clash came after former Tory PM Theresa May said “damage has been done to all MPs and to Parliament as a whole” by the Owen Paterson saga.
The row began when Mr Johnson ordered his MPs to vote to overhaul Commons standards rules to save Mr Paterson from being suspended for 30 days for lobbying breaches.
The ex-Environment Secretary then resigned as an MP after the PM withdrew his support amid a furious backlash.
Thirteen days later, that vote was finally undone by MPs today - after an attempt to do so last night failed when Sir Christopher objected.
Mrs May said it was clear that Mr Paterson had broken the rules on paid advocacy - adding: “And the attempt by MPs… aided and abetted by the government… effectively to clear his name was misplaced, ill-judged and just plain wrong."
