Nadine Dorries is involved in a new political row, after disputing whether the time one of her rivals spent serving in Iraq counts as having "fought" for democracy.
David Reeves, the Labour parliamentary candidate for Mid Beds, spent six months in Iraq as a lance corporal in the British Army intelligence corps in 2003-04.
But after Mr Reeves cited his service when criticising Ms Dorries over the expenses furore, she attacked his claims in her internet blog.
She wrote: "Did he fight in Iraq? Did he go out into the danger zones along with the a regiment on Op Telic 8, and risk his life and limb side by side with our soldiers, for the sake of freedom and democracy?
"The values for which he claims to have 'fought in Iraq'.
"I will be interested to find out the answer."
Mr Reeves served in Iraq as a member of the Territorial Army, having first signed up to the TA in September 2001.
He was based at the British and multinational headquarters at Basra Airport in southern Iraq from July 2003 to January 2004.
Mr Reeves said he did not kill anyone while in Iraq although he was in a vehicle which was surrounded by a mob of people while picking up supplies to take to Basra Palace.
He said: "Killing people is the last thing you do. We got ourselves out of that situation at the time.
"That was a life-threatening situation, but we got ourselves out. Any soldier out there in Iraq has to deal with that sort of situation.
"In the old days, when we were planning to go to war with Russia, there was a frontline of soldiers. It was the guys in the tanks and those running behind them. But in Iraq there is no individual enemy you can see and fire at. The enemy could be anyway, or they can plant roadside bombs and disappear."
Mr Reeves added: "For Nadine Dorries to question the sacrifice that our soldiers make shows how dangerously out of touch she is.
"She owes an apology to those who have served in Iraq, for attempting to use soldiers' sacrifice for her petty political gain.
"All soldiers who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan are on the front line, regardless of unit and role."
Links:Nadine Dorries blogDavid Reeves websiteThe Bedford Today files:Pop singer may stand against NadineMPs' expenses - Nadine claims the story is 'Smeargate payback'MPs' expenses - rival accuses Nadine of u-turn