Parliament's anti-corruption watchdog - the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) - has accused Nadine Dorries, the former Culture Secretary, of breaching the ministerial code by failing to consult it before taking up a job as host of a new Friday night talk show on TalkTV.
Dorries reportedly announced the show last week, with former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as her first guest.
Acoba Chair Lord Pickles wrote to Dorries saying that "failing to seek and await advice before the role was announced or taken up…is a breach of the Government's rules and the requirements set out in the ministerial code".
The letter from Lord Pickles to Dorries also said that Acoba was informed of her decision to take up the new role on Friday.
In a separate letter to Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden, Lord Pickles recommended that "given the transparent nature" of the role, it would be "disproportionate to take any further action in this case".
The BBC reports that Lord Pickles added that "it was only right to remind [Ms Dorries] of this important requirement, which helps to protect the integrity of the [ministerial] system".
Dorries was previously criticised for her decision to fly to Australia to take part in the reality TV show, I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, while serving as an MP. The Mirror characterised her statement, in which she said she had sought advice on whether or not to take the TalkTV job but did not wait for the committee's response, as an "excuse".
The Independent said that Lord Pickles had recommended no further action because the role was "transparent".
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that Lord Pickles wrote to Dorries to remind her of the importance of seeking Acoba's advice, thereby protecting the "integrity of the [ministerial] system".