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A Brexit 'naked economist' left BBC Radio 4's best-known host stunned after stripping off live on air.

Cambridge academic Victoria Bateman shed her clothes to reveal the word ' Brexit leaves Britain naked' across her chest on the Today programme.

She even challenged Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg to a naked debate - leaving 75-year-old host John Humphrys perplexed.

"Yes, and you are now naked," he said. "Why do you feel the need to take your clothes off? Isn't it just exhibitionism?"

Mr Humphrys repeatedly questioned the economics fellow - whose naked Brexit talk (Warning: nudity in link) went viral this week - on why she couldn't make her point with her clothes on.

But she said it showed leaving the EU is like the "emperor's new clothes".

(Image: BBC)

And Twitter users criticised Mr Humphrys' line of questioning. One said: "His persistence in mocking and interrupting her is offending, outrageous that this type of men are being paid with tax payers money."

It comes after Dr Bateman clashed with Piers Morgan over her style which the ITV host claimed would "turn him into a Brexiteer".

She told the BBC: "I have myself written thousands of words looking at why Brexit is bad for Britain.

"But I thought it would be useful to reduce all of those words down, condense all of those words down to one powerful message.

(Image: BBC)

"Brexit is the emperor's new clothes - Britain has sold itself a project that cannot possibly deliver on what it promised."

She added: "I invite Jacob Rees-Mogg to do a naked debate with me and we will get to the roots of this issue.

"Britain faces many, many problems right now from housing to the NHS, and the European Union is not the cause of those problems."

Asked if she is simply an "exhibitionist", Dr Bateman said: "I am completely comfortable with my own body, I view women's bodies as one of the big battlegrounds that we face today.

(Image: PA)

"And actually by engaging with society about women's bodies, one of the things it shows is the way in which people are quick to judge women purely based on their bodies.

"For thousands of years men have controlled what women can do with their bodies, and women's bodies have been seen as something purely existing for sex and for babies.

"So what is wrong with a modern day woman taking control of her body and using it to give voice to what is the most depressing political subject in Britain right now?"

After the interview co-presenter Nick Robinson joked: "My computer screen was strategically placed so I have only been listening to what was being said."

Just 49 days left to Brexit.