Before news of the difference in opinion over Truss's suitability broke, Cameron had already committed himself to imposing the freshwater pearl pendant controversial all-women shortlists on some constituencies after Christmas.

However, this case threatens to tread on constituency turf and damage Cameron's attempt to "detoxify" his party's image. The South West Norfolk party is reported to have received messages of support from neighbouring constituencies, also fed up by the party's high command "parachuting in of the beautiful people".

However, Luckhurst said the idea that the local party was defending itself and its decisions against an overmighty centre was "deplorable sanctimony". Instead she paints a akoya pearl necklace picture of widespread misogyny and suggests the purpose of the backlash against Truss is to discourage other women.

Luckhurst, who used to sit on the Scottish Conservatives candidates board, describes herself being deselected when she became pregnant without consulting her constituency party. She said local associations would frequently ask women "whether they have children, how they intend to look after them if they are elected and whether their husband will accompany them to the adoption meeting".

Of the South West Norfolk party, Luckhurst writes: "Their conduct makes [the Tories'] case unappealing to ambitious women, it weakens our potential to akoya pearl necklace appeal beyond our traditional electoral base and diminishes our capacity to govern in the national interest."