Earlier this week the group imploded after James McGrory and Tom Baldwin, its chief executive and communications director respectively, were fired in an internal coup earlier this week. Europhile businessman Roland Rudd moved against the pair as chair of Open Britain, the largest organisation within the People’s Vote movement which employs most of its staff.

Some 40 People’s Vote staff passed a motion of no confidence in Mr Rudd and are refusing to return to work unless Mr McGrory and Mr Baldwin are reinstated.

Some of the employees are reported to be considering legal action.

In letters seen by The Guardian they have also started writing to clients of Mr Rudd’s PR firm Finsbury questioning his behaviour.

Speaking to the paper a source said the intention was to “hit him in the wallet”.

The letters question whether Mr Rudd has “demonstrated good PR skills” during the current controversy.

People’s Vote are campaigning for a second referendum on Britain’s EU membership.

The group has organised a number of marches through central London which it claims have attracted up to a million participants.

Speaking to the BBC a source close to Mr Rudd said if they staff don’t return to work “they will be replaced by staff who do want to work towards a People’s Vote.

They continued: “Staff have been asked to return to work and we hope everyone who wishes to do so, will do so, without feeling intimidated by those who have orchestrated this walk out.

“The staffing decisions will not be reversed and new senior staff will be announced in due course.”

However a People’s Vote employee fired back telling the corporation “this is a coup against the people who built the People’s Vote campaign by a multimillionaire who has contributed nothing to it”.

There was controversy after Mr Rudd brought security guards to one meeting with employees.

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One People’s Vote employee claimed it cleared an “intimidating atmosphere for just a meeting”.

Open Britain, the biggest single group within People’s Vote, is the successor organisation to Britain Stronger in Europe, the official remain campaign during the 2016 referendum.

Mr Rudd is said to want to move People’s Vote in a more overtly remain direction whilst some employees want to focus on securing a second referendum without saying which side the campaign will endorse.

Alastair Campbell, formerly Tony Blair’s spin doctor, has hit out at Mr Rudd over the dispute.

He commented: “While the staff have been busy fighting for a People’s Vote Mr Rudd has been engaged close to full time in boardroom politics, a board which with few exceptions has done little for the campaign.”

However speaking to The Guardian a supporter of Mr Rudd accused Mr McGrory and Mr Baldwin of orchestrating “a cult like walk out”.

The People’s Vote campaign collapse comes at a terrible time for supporters of a second referendum.

Earlier this week Parliament voted to hold a general election on December 12.

People’s Vote had been planning to organise a mass campaign of tactical voting by those who want a second Brexit vote.

It is unclear if this will go ahead given the splits within the group.

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to cancel Brexit if they form a majority Government, whilst Labour says it will hold another referendum.

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