MINISTERS who think the UK should leave a key EU nuclear body are "morons" who are "near-retarded", one of the architects of Brexit has claimed.

Dominic Cummings, who helped to head up the Vote Leave campaign in last year's referendum, hit out at plans to leave Euratom when we quit the EU.

3 Pulling out of the nuclear agency could affect treatment and scans for cancer patients Credit: PA:Press Association

3 Vote Leave's Dominic Cummings said the Tory party kept making misjudgements about what the referendum meant Credit: Getty Images

He wrote on Twitter: "Government morons say they're withdrawing from Euratom. Near-retarded on every dimention."

Mr Cummings went on to say that the "Tory party keeps making huge misjudgements r.e. what the ref was about" and urged "anybody sentient" to tell Mrs May and Brexit secretary David Davis that this is "unaccepable b******t and must be ditched or she will be."

The news came alongside warnings that cancer patients could be at risk if Britain pulls out of the group.

Yesterday a handful of backbenchers including Conservative Ed Vaizey and Labour's Rachel Reeves used a joint article in the Sunday Telegraph to condemn the decision to pull out of Euratom.

They claims the treaty plays a "vital part in many areas of our everyday life".

Ms Reevs said: "Nobody voted to leave the EU to come out of Euratom, and no one would think the government was going soft on Brexit if they rowed back on this."

Theresa May now faces a backbench rebellion on the issue as up to nine are thought to be prepared to oppose the plans.

MOST READ IN POLITICS COVID CLAMPDOWN PM unveils huge £10k fines for Brits who break covid self-isolation rules SHORT SHARP LOCK Pubs & restaurants could shut completely within days in two-week lockdown XMAS 'GIFT' PM to consider lifting 'rule of six' on Xmas so families can celebrate together Exclusive BORDER FARCE Fifty 'boomerang' migrants given right to stay despite being deported before Latest ON THE BRINK England faces lockdown in days as cases double and Nightingale ward on standby BUBBLE UP What is a support bubble and who can be in one? Covid rules explained BRITS BACK BORIS PM wins public support in fight to secure Brexit trade deal, poll reveals Exclusive CARROT AND STICK Workers told to isolate with Covid symptoms will be given cash lump sum BLOC SNUBS FOX Bitter EU tried to block Liam Fox’s bid to head up World Trade Organisation HODGE HITS LABOUR Former Labour minister says party is 'out of touch' with Brits

The Prime Minister said today that membership of the body is "inextricably linked with the membership of the European Union" - and so the UK has to leave it.

She tried to calm fears by arguing that the Government will be "looking to put in place a similar relationship with Euratom" like other countries have.

The agency governs the use of radioactive materials in Europe. It is not officially part of the EU but is overseen by the European Court of Human Rights - a body ministers are keen to see Britain taken away from.

All members of Euratom are part of the EU apart from Switzerland, which has an associate membership.

3 Theresa May said today that Britain had to leave the body Credit: EPA

And this afternoon Dr Nicola Strickland, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, said that pulling out of the arrangement could have a drastic affect on nuclear equipment used to treat cancer patients.

She told the Evening Standard that thousands of people could face delays if there were restrictions put on imported radioactive isotopes, which are used in scans.

Around half a million of the scans are performed annually in the UK, and 10,000 have cancer treatment from them.