McVey meltdown was so bad cabinet thought they’d have to call security

UK CABINET ministers were so alarmed by the behaviour of Esther McVey during last week’s tumultuous Brexit meeting that they thought ‘security would have to be called’, according to one senior figure present.

The former British Work and Pensions Secretary – who resigned on Thursday in protest at Theresa May’s Brexit deal – was embroiled in a furious confrontation with the prime minister when she demanded a vote to formally record ministers’ positions.

Ms McVey has angrily denied she was in tears during the bust-up, saying: ‘I’m made of much sterner stuff than that.’

But one minister told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘It was the most extraordinary meltdown I’ve seen in cabinet. I thought security would have to be called because she seemed so hysterical and aggressive. The prime minister tried to talk to her, but it was all just empty waffle which Esther talked over. So Julian [Smith, chief whip], just started shouting at her to shut up.’

Cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill also objected to Ms McVey’s call for a vote to ‘put on record where everyone stood’.

Although Downing Street was shaken by the departure of former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, they were relieved Ms McVey was the only other minister to quit.

No 10 were already planning to move her in the next cabinet reshuffle after being unimpressed by her performance over the blighted Universal Credit system, which has been plagued by delays, soaring costs and complaints of families left without support.