The former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers has denied being sacked from the intelligence and security committee, claiming she was personally appointed by Boris Johnson just days ago. The former environment secretary said she was initially under pressure from party whips over her voting record, having most recently voted to ban the import of chlorinated chicken into the UK in a post-Brexit trade deal. However, she said she was telephoned personally by the prime minister, who invited her on to the committee with no restrictions on how she chooses to vote on trade issues. “As far as I know I’m one of the Conservative MPs nominated to join the intelligence and security committee,” Villiers said. “I very much look forward to playing my part on this important scrutiny body, overseeing the work of the intelligence services.” The committee has not met for six months – the longest since it was formed in 1994 – after government delays in appointing the Conservative members. It is sitting on a report into alleged Russian influence on UK politics, which was completed in October 2019 and can only be released once the group has reconvened. Johnson was criticised for not releasing it before the general election. Villiers has been at the centre of reports about the committee in recent days after suggestions she was ousted for disloyalty to the government. This uncertainty around her position was claimed to be part of the reason the committee had still not reconvened six months on from the general election. It is understood whips warned her that if she rebelled against the government, her position on the committee would not be tenable. She was then asked to vote with the government on future trade matters, which she said she could not promise and so assumed she had been dropped from the body. However, just days ago she received a personal call from Johnson securing her position with no voting restrictions. She believes reports of her being sacked are incorrect. The government has faced sustained criticism for not resolving its nominees for the committee, which oversees the work of MI5. The Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael, said the delay raised ethical questions, considering the Russia report led by the previous committee chair, Dominic Grieve, was submitted on 17 October 2019 and it usually takes 10 days to sign off. Earlier on Monday the security minister, James Brokenshire, said the committee would be set up in the “near term”. Brokenshire told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “The prime minister is looking at the membership and obviously to bring forward and to see the ISC is constituted and I’m sure that it will come forward in the near term.” He said the government attached great importance to scrutiny. “I’m quite sure the prime minister is considering the membership and considering reconstitution very rigorously to see that back in place.” Villiers said: “I certainly expect to see the committee set up soon. It would make sense to make sure it’s in operation before the summer recess.” The former transport minister Chris Grayling and the ex-ministers John Hayes and Mike Penning are the other Tory nominees for the committee.