The panel was made up of the Tory MP, and Labour’s shadow housing minister Sarah Jones, who is also an MP for Croydon. President of the National Farmers’ Union Minette Batters, businessman and entrepreneur Sacha Lord and Comedian and writer Geoff Norcott also joined host Ms Bruce in the Brexit heartlands of Derbyshire.

Ms Bruce and Mr Cleverly clashed over post-Brexit food standards after a fiery debate between Ms Batters and Mr Cleverly ensued.

After getting into an argument with the Wiltshire farmer, Mr Cleverly responded to the debate by attempting to take over Ms Bruce’s role as host by asking the audience a question directly.

Mr Cleverly said: “If you’ll indulge me for a minute, I’m going to do what you get a chance to do and I’ve always been a bit envious.

“I would like the audience to put their hands up if what they really want post-Brexit is a massive reduction in food standards?”

Ms Bruce then loudly interrupted and shouted to the audience, “Don’t answer that question folks!

“That is not what Minette is asking you. That is completely changing the argument.

“She is saying ‘why have you not committed to maintaining food standards in the agriculture bill.’

“That’s what she’s asking. So, why haven’t you?”

Mr Cleverly responded by saying, “The point I’m making is that now that the British Government is fully responsible to the British people, things like trade policy, immigration policy and that kind of stuff, we all respond to the desires of the British people.

“And there is no desire to scrap our animal welfare standards, our food hygiene standards and all that kind of stuff.”

Ms Bruce and Ms Batters then both interrupted Mr Cleverly and asked, “Why hasn’t it been put in the bill?”

Mr Cleverly continued: “The simple truth is that British people do not want it to happen.

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“And therefore it will not happen.

“Because this Government will respond to the needs and the wants of the British people.

“And that is how a democracy should work.

“That’s what Brexit is all about.”

Ms Bruce interrupted the Tory MP once again and said to the audience and the panel that “so if people want something, you don’t put it in law?

“Because that’s what people want.

“I’m very confused about that.”

The Tory MP seemed deeply frustrated by Ms Bruce and replied: “But we’ve got higher animal welfare standards!”

Ms Bruce took over as Question Time host on January 10, 2019.

She replaced long-time host David Dimbleby.

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