SNP MP Lisa Cameron who defected to Tories made Alister Jack's assistant in Scotland Office

The former SNP MP who defected to the Conservatives was given a job in a UK Government department just weeks after quitting her old party.

Lisa Cameron was made parliamentary private secretary by Scottish secretary Alister Jack in November.

The East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow MP resigned from the SNP in October just hours ahead of the party reselection meeting where she faced an internal challenge.

She was seen in the House of Commons for the first time a week after her defection. She was flanked by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and former prime minister Theresa May.

Theresa May, Lisa Cameron and Douglas Ross were seen in the House of Commons together a week after she defected to the Conservatives. UK Parliament

A Parliamentary Private Secretary acts as a minister’s assistant and is designed to be their “eyes and ears” in the House of Commons.

The job is unpaid but is considered useful for an MP to gain experience working in government.

Announcing her decision to change parties two months ago, she accused the SNP Westminster group of “toxic and bullying” treatment.

This claim was denied by SNP MP Alison Thewliss.

Cameron said she felt “fear and intimidation” after defending the teenager who was the victim of unwanted sexual advances by SNP MP Patrick Grady.

Cameron claimed the treatment by colleagues resulted in her being prescribed anti-depressants and receiving counselling.

She later said she didn’t feel “wanted as a Christian” in the party.

Cameron – who is a member of the Free Church of Scotland – said her former colleagues took issue with her voting in line with her religious beliefs.

She said her religion had been “frowned upon” by the SNP.

Humza Yousaf previously urged the MP to do the “honourable thing” and resign, adding that he was confident his party would win a by-election.

After joining the Conservatives, Cameron said she no longer believed in independence.

“I feel absolutely exhausted by nationalism,” she said. “I feel like Scotland’s exhausted by nationalism and all of our services are exhausted now. It’s become very divisive

“(The SNP) was badged to me in 2014 as a big, broad tent – it’s become narrower and narrower and narrower towards nationalism that I don’t even recognise the party I joined from 2014.”