Jacob Rees-Mogg clarified he was referring to David Cameron holding a mandate referendum, in response to the caller’s claims. The caller argued the video of Mr Rees-Mogg’s comments had been “taken down”, with the Tory backbencher contending it is on the “parliamentary website”. The LBC caller, James, began: “In 2011 you said it would make more sense to have the second referendum after the renegotiation is over. So given that only about 1.3million more voted to Leave – “ Mr Rees-Mogg interjected: “Only 1.3million? A tiny number of 1.3million? James come on, this is propaganda.”

After debating the difference in votes between Leave and Remain, the caller referred back to his original question and asked: “Why has Mr Rees-Mogg changed his mind?”

The European Research Group (ERG) chairman replied: “I haven’t and if you bothered listening to this programme before we have discussed it on many occasions.

“I’ll be brief because this is the dishonest propaganda of the referendum campaign, and they put it up as billboard saying I tweeted something before I was even on Twitter.

“So James I’m afraid you’re simply wrong on this, what I was saying was that David Cameron should have got a mandate referendum before he went to renegotiate to say ‘we want to renegotiate’.

You’re talking through your hat

Jacob Rees-Mogg

“And then he could have had a referendum on his renegotiation. Mr Cameron decided not to have the mandate referendum but to put it to one referendum which was decisive. So if you listened to what I said in 2011 that is the point, that isn’t what happened. Very straightforward.”

The caller remarked: “I simply got a video of Mr Rees-Mogg saying it. And strange enough the video has now been taken down.”

Mr Rees-Mogg hit back: “No it hasn’t because it’s on the parliamentary website. You’re talking through your hat James, I’m so sorry.”

The comments come as Tory Brexiteers push plans to avoid a hard border in Ireland, by using existing technology for “invisible” customs checks which would make the Brexit backstop “obsolete” within three years.

Mr Rees-Mogg, Iain Duncan Smith and Steve Baker are behind the report, which will be released today at the Alternative Arrangements Commission conference and calls for alternative arrangements to the backstop to be made within three years to break the current Brexit impasse.

The report by Prosperity UK calls for “goodwill and pragmatism” on both sides and says a solution can be found “by harnessing existing technologies and customs best practice – futuristic high-tech solutions are not needed”.

Remainers Nicky Morgan and Greg Hands led research into the report and say in their foreword: “Despite the volatility in British politics, we believe there is now a clear route open to a negotiated Brexit, which is firmly in the interests of all sides.”

The report follows approximately a dozen Tory MPs threatened to support a vote of no confidence in the Government to stop a no deal Brexit.

Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood said the rebels would include ministers as well as backbenchers, in a stark warning to the Tory leadership contenders who have kept the option of a no-deal Brexit on the table.

Britain is due to leave the European Union on October 31, although Parliament could attempt to block Brexit if no agreement has been struck with Brussels.

On the possibility of some Tory MPs supporting the “nuclear option” of denying the Government Commons support if it pushed for no deal, Mr Ellwood told the BBC: “I believe that absolutely is the case.

“I think a dozen or so members of parliament would be on our side, would be voting against supporting a no-deal and that would include ministers as well as backbenchers.”

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