The prominent Tory Brexiteer called for "lift-off" in exit negotiations so Britain can leave on Brexit day - March 29 - as he pressed the Prime Minister to prove that she is "committed to referendum result, for that it is the authoritative constitutional voice. He wrote: "Eurosceptics must similarly be guided by the electorate — it is our duty and obligation to those who trusted that the vote in 2016 would be decisive and would be implemented.

"This makes it necessary to vote against the current deal as well as efforts to move the date beyond March 29.

"The people have spoken. The case ought to be concluded. Let’s have lift-off."

He accused EU supporters of preferring the Brussels bloc to democracy itself, writing for The Sun: "It is worth remembering that those who love the European Union prefer it to democracy and always have done".

The intervention comes after Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox held fresh talks in Brussels in a renewed effort to secure changes to the controversial Irish backstop.

Mr Cox and Mr Barclay were seeking to allay fears that the backstop could leave the UK trapped in a customs union with the EU, in a bid to win over Tory MPs ahead of further votes next week.

Mrs May is set to bring her deal back to the Commons for a vote by March 12.

If it is rejected, MPs will get the chance to either back a no-deal Brexit or call for the UK's departure from the EU to be delayed beyond the current March 29 deadline.