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A ministerial aide was fired after an investigation into the leak of a letter warning Conservative MPs not to leak information.
Andrew Lewer is no longer a parliamentary private secretary in the Home Office after whip boss Mark Spencer set a “Canarian trap”, several Whitehall sources confirmed to the Press Association.
In an attempt to reveal possible leaks within the government, it was understood that different versions of the letter were sent to each recipient.
Each is believed to contain distinct but minor differences.
An image of one of the letters appeared on Guido Fawkes’ website Thursday afternoon.
Mr Lewer, MP from Northampton South, has denied being responsible.
“In almost 20 years of elected office, I have never leaked to the press,” he told Politico.
In the letter, it was noted that Boris Johnson’s foreword to the ministerial code “strictly prohibits” leaks.
“Please keep this in mind; your position is a privilege and not a right.”
Downing Street has been trying to crack down on the leaks in recent weeks, after newspapers reported plans for a second national shutdown in England ahead of an official announcement from the prime minister.
Johnson said earlier this week that the search for the culprit was continuing and promised to update the Commons “if” the source was discovered.
