Politics

His intervention came ahead of MPs debating the legislation on Monday, when the Bill returns to the Commons amid growing criticism.

Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary said: “A future where (the) UK breaks its international law obligations, and opts out of Human Rights protections is a very bad future.”

Johnny Mercer told the Mail columnist he had to Google him during the brief exchange.

In 1996 it was reported Hamilton had taken money in brown envelopes from Mohamed Al Fayed in a “cash-for-questions” scandal.

“We don’t want our food supply undermined by imported food from countries with poorer animal welfare standards, selling our food production down the river by negotiating cheap deals.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, that number increases to 45 per cent among Leave voters.

“But if they do not, and the talk collapse, then it is their failure and incompetence that will have let the British people down.”

If anything, Tory rebels were only hardened by the PM's call with backbenchers.

The vitriol was blamed on racist behaviour which has become "commonplace in Britain".