Claire Perry O’Neill, the former Devizes MP and energy minister, has been sacked from her role as president of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference following “concerns about her leadership”.

Boris Johnson told the former Tory MP he was removing her from the post with immediate effect, though no official reason was given for her dismissal.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Whitehall sources suggested officials “couldn’t work with her” and that concerns about her performance had been a “long running issue”.

The role, which was semi-independent from Whitehall, will now come under the remit of Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom and her department.

Ms Perry O’Neill tweeted: “Very sad that the role I was offered by @BorisJohnson last year has now been rescinded as Whitehall ‘can’t cope’ with an Indy COP unit. A shame we haven’t had one climate cabinet meeting since we formed. Wishing the COP team every blessing in the climate recovery emergency.”

The news comes rapidly on the heels of the recently elected Devizes MP Danny Kruger making his maiden speech in the Commons on Thursday.