The former international trade secretary took at swipe at the Love Actually actor as he concluded his speech in the Commons in favour of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. Dr Fox claimed the deal will allow for international trade deals with the rest of the world adding a trade agreement with the EU will be easily completed by the end of next year. He concluded: “I say this in the spirit of the season: I hope that even Hugh Grant will watch our seasonal offering this year. Which is democracy, actually!”

The British actor branded the Conservatives’ victory at the general election “dark and scary” last week. 

Boris Johnson’s deal is expected to pass thanks to the Prime Minister’s victory in the election, which saw him come away with an 80-strong majority and the fact that all Tory election candidates backed the agreement.

After he has taken the UK out of the bloc on January 31, Mr Johnson will close down the Brexit department and tell his team to no longer use the word Brexit.

During his opening speech kicking off the debate on Friday morning, Mr Johnson said: “We will be able to move forward together. The Bill ensures that the implementation period must end on Jan 31 with no possibility of an extension.

“And it paves the path for a new agreement on our future relationship with our European neighbours based on an ambitious free-trade agreement, with no alignment… on EU rules, but instead control of our own laws and close and friendly relations.

“This vision of the United Kingdom’s independence, a vision that inspires so many, is now if this Parliament, this new Parliament allows, only hours from our grasp.

“The oven is on, so to speak, it is set at gas mark 4, we can have it done by lunchtime or late lunch.”

In his concluding remarks, Mr Johnson said: “Now is the moment to come together and write a new and exciting chapter in our national story, to forge a new partnership with our European friends, to stand tall in the world, to begin the healing for which the whole people of this country yearn, and it is within that spirit of unity that I commend this Bill to the House.”

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He said Mr Johnson was offering a “terrible” Brexit deal, adding: “Labour will not support this Bill as we remain certain there is a better and fairer way for this country to leave the European Union.

“One which would not risk ripping our communities apart, selling out our public services or sacrificing hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process.

“This deal is a road map for the reckless direction in which the Government and our Prime Minister are determined to take our country.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn labelled the Government’s handling of Brexit as a “national embarrassment” since 2016, as he said his party “recognises the clear message” from voters at the election but confirmed they will not support the Bill.

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