Strike two? The ministers Best for Britain allegedly approached about supporting a second Brexit vote

Opposed to a new vote on the EU

Alistair Burt campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU and until his appointment as a foreign minister in June 2017 was one of the most strident proeuropean Tory MPS. Shortly before his appointment, he sparred on Twitter with Steve Baker, then the head of a Eurosceptic group of MPS, as he issued a forthright defence of Philip Hammond, the Chancellor.

“They never, ever stop. Not even after they have won a referendum,” he said. “Until they have driven this country into the ground.” In March, Mr Burt came to the defence of Sir John Major, Nick Clegg and Tony Blair after they called for a second referendum. “How dare you call my friends, who gave such service to the country, despicable,” he said. However, he recently suggested on his website that he opposed a second referendum. “There is no doubt the Government will respect the result of the referendum”, he said.

‘Madness to pursue a hard Brexit’

Richard Harrington, the business minister, openly condemned the “madness” of pursuing a hard Brexit earlier this month. He said that his portfolio, which includes the auto and aerospace industries, had convinced him of the need to secure a “very sensible Brexit”, telling The Mail on Sunday: “My portfolio shows it would be madness to have a hard Brexit and that’s my view.”

Mr Harrington campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU during the referendum. However, after the vote he said he “respected” the result and was “convinced” it would be a success.

Avowed Remainer backing Brexit

While he campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU, Shailesh Vara, the Northern Ireland minister, has since emerged as a strong supporter of Brexit.

Last year, he turned on those warning that leaving the EU without a deal will end in “economic Armageddon”.

He told the Commons: “Those who threaten economic Armageddon if we leave the EU without a deal are effectively engaging in Project Fear 2.”

Mr Vara supported Michael Gove in the Conservative Party leadership contest.