Fraser Anning has hit back at Pauline Hanson over claims he quit One Nation, saying she “unilaterally” kicked him out of the minor party “by press release”.

Amid chaotic scenes in Parliament as speculation mounted that independent Jacqui Lambie would soon resign over dual citizenship, Senator Hanson sent the upper house into a spin by claiming Senator Anning had quit the party.

The One Nation leader made the claim in a press release sent out only an hour after Senator Anning was sworn in to replace Malcolm Roberts.

But Senator Anning said he not quit the party and was “stunned” when he learned he had been dumped by Senator Hanson.

Senator Anning raised eyebrows when he was ushered into the Senate by crossbenchers David Leyonhjelm and Cory Bernardi, not One Nation colleagues.

Pauline Hanson wanted Malcolm Roberts to remain in the Senate. Photo: AAP

He said he had asked One Nation’s Peter Georgiou and Brian Burston to escort him into the chamber, as is customary for new senators, but gathered “Pauline had told them not to do so”.

“The next thing I knew, I saw on the TV that I had supposedly become an independent. This was news to me,” he said.

“It seems that without even contacting me, Pauline has unilaterally kicked me out of her party.

“I have to say I’m stunned. What a way to treat someone who has been loyal to her for over 20 years.

“If I’m no longer a One Nation senator, it is because Pauline has expelled me by press release.”

Senator Anning, whose association with the party dates back to 1998 when he ran as a candidate, blamed Senator Hanson’s chief of staff James Ashby for his dismissal.

Senator Jacqui Lambie may have been undone by Section 44. Photo: AAP

Senator Hanson said Senator Anning had quit after the pair argued in a meeting on Monday morning.

The dispute was sparked when Senator Hanson refused to allow Senator Anning’s staff, who had previously worked for Mr Roberts, into the meeting.

Senator Hanson revealed that she had asked Senator Anning to stand aside so that Mr Roberts could continue in the Senate after he was disqualified by the High Court over dual citizenship.

The defection leaves One Nation with three senators: Pauline Hanson, Peter Georgiou and Brian Burston.

The chaos in One Nation came as speculation swirled that Senator Lambie, whose father was born in Scotland, was preparing to resign from Parliament over dual citizenship.

Senator Lambie said on Monday she was still waiting to hear back from UK authorities.

The firebrand independent appears to have similar circumstance to Fiona Nash, Stephen Parry and John Alexander.

The Tasmanian is a vocal critic of the Coalition and has slammed the government over cuts to welfare and changes to the ABC.

As a result, her resignation may improve the government’s chance pass to legislation.