The raucous moment took place on BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions show to a live audience in Norfolk. The former Brexit secretary David Davis told host Jonathan Dimbleby that the “simple truth is we have to leave by October 31.” At this, the seemingly Reaminer-dominated audience erupted into disorder, moaning “Why?” down at the panel.

But, taking it in his stride, Mr Davis delivered a rousing speech in response: “A few years ago, the British people voted to leave by a majority of 1.5 million.

“We have to deliver on that.

“I think, frankly, a lot of the people who voted to leave find it patronising of their government to say to them ‘oh, we’re not quite sure you knew what you were doing.

“‘We’re not quite sure you understood the question.’

“They did. They understood perfectly well.

“They want to leave, primarily for reasons of democracy.”

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt have begun efforts to win over Tory members against a backdrop of infighting, a looming by-election and a fresh warning from Brussels about Brexit.

The two leadership rivals were addressing senior Tory councillors in Westminster ahead of the first official members’ hustings of the contest on Saturday.

Mr Hunt insisted that he could beat clear favourite Mr Johnson when Tory members cast their votes, claiming he was “someone they trust to be prime minister”.

In an early indication of the campaign lines he will use to separate himself from the flamboyant former London mayor, Mr Hunt said he would be a “wise prime minister who makes sensible calls” on Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary insisted Brussels would be willing to listen to him.

“The thing that’s not going to work in Theresa May’s deal is this Northern Irish backstop which means we are trapped in the customs union until they give us permission to leave, so that’s got to change,” he said.

“And who do we trust to change that, someone who the EU will talk to and negotiate with? I’m that person.”

Both Mr Hunt and Mr Johnson want to secure changes to the Brexit deal before the UK’s scheduled exit on October 31.

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