Photos of the pair were published by the Guido Fawkes website, which it said had been taken by a “mole” at the Wolseley in swanky Mayfair last night. Mr Hammond is vehemently opposed to Britain leaving the European Union without a deal, and has pledged to do “everything in my power” to prevent such an outcome.

The fact that Theresa May’s most senior Cabinet Minister and Chief of Staff are busy scheming against Boris and Brexit just a week after leaving office speaks volumes about why May failed to deliver

Guido Fawkes website

Meanwhile Mr Barwell, Mrs May’s former chief of staff, was recently embroiled in cronyism row after it was revealed he was set to be appointed in the House of Lords.

Guido claimed the pair, who were accompanied by their wives, discussing in some depth ways of thwarting Johnson and revoking Article 50.

The site commented: “The fact that Theresa May’s most senior Cabinet Minister and Chief of Staff are busy scheming against Boris and Brexit just a week after leaving office speaks volumes about why May failed to deliver.”

Mr Hammond quit as Chancellor on July 24, prior to Mrs May officially standing down as Prime Minister.

Speaking to BBC’s Andrew Marr prior to the confirmation of his decision, he said: “Assuming that Boris Johnson becomes the next prime minister, I understand that his conditions for serving in his government would include accepting a no-deal exit on the 31st October and it’s not something that I could ever sign up to.

“It’s very important that the prime minister is able to have a chancellor who is closely aligned with him in terms of policy and I therefore intend to resign to Theresa May before she goes to the Palace to tender her own resignation on Wednesday.

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“I am confident that Parliament does have a way of preventing a no-deal exit on October 31 without parliamentary consent and I intend to work with others to ensure parliament uses its power to make sure that the new Government can’t do that.

“The point of that is not to inflict some defeat on the new government, it is to ensure that the new government focuses then on trying to achieve a sensible, negotiated settlement with the EU that protects our economy and allows us all to get on with our lives.”

Speaking before Mrs May left Downing Street, Mr Barwell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme Mrs May was concerned no-deal Brexit could trigger a push for a united Ireland.

He said: “She is a passionate unionist and she has spent a significant amount of time in Northern Ireland during her premiership.

“And every time she visited, that, sort of, sense that the combination of Brexit and what it could mean to the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland and the lack of devolved government in Northern Ireland that there was a real threat.

“The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is on a statutory duty to call a border poll if she believes there is evidence to support one. So, that is a real concern to her, yes.”

Guido’s story was retweeted by Brexiteer and vice-chairman of the European Research Group Steve Baker, who has voiced his concern about Brexit plotters in the past.

Last month he accused Dominic Grieve of turning Northern Ireland into a “bargaining chip” with an amendment in relation to the region which was a device to stop Mr Johnson suspending Parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Baker told Express.co.uk at the time: “What we need is proper conduct in Government, not using Northern Ireland as a bargaining chip.

“This is an attempt to stop Brexit by subterfuge and dirty bargaining.

He added: “Brexiteers are trying to rebuild our constitution.

“But it seems that Remainers are trying to tear it down.

“We want to reestablish faith in our institutions here.”

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