Nando’s had dismissed as “incorrect” the suggestion it would allow the Conservatives to offer a discount to party members.

According to The Times, the Conservative Party is considering rolling out a discount card for restaurants, including the PERi-PERi chicken chain, as a way to boost its membership.

A senior party source told the paper a special card was “a very real possibility”.

But spokesman for the restaurant told HuffPost UK on Monday: “Nando’s has no political affiliations as a brand and no political discount card exists.

“We have a Nando’s loyalty card and standard gift cards that anyone can use, and we offer a 20% discount to Police, Fire Services, Ambulance service and NHS staff.”

A Labour “sauce” said: “The desperate Tories offering a Nando’s discount scheme was always a peri peri stupid idea.”

The restaurant has also used its Twitter account to reply to customers who are unhappy at the idea it might be linked to the Conservative Party.

One Tory who might be disappointed at not getting money off his order is David Cameron, who was famously photographed eating at Nando’s while serving as prime minister in 2014.

The Conservative Party is flagging way behind Labour when it comes to grassroots membership.

As of January 2018, Jeremy Corbyn’s party had 552,000 members compared to just 124,000 Tories.

In February HuffPost UK learned that young Tory activists were being promised boozy nights with MPs in exchange for campaigning for the party.

The SNP meanwhile had a 118,200 strong membership and the Lib Dems had 100,500.