Amber Rudd explained why she had abstained

Theresa May tore into rebel members of her cabinet yesterday at a hastily called meeting in Downing Street.

Tempers became frayed during the political cabinet, with a source saying that the prime minister “went batshit”.

Mrs May rebuked Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary, Greg Clark, the business secretary, David Gauke, the justice secretary, and David Mundell, the Scottish secretary. They had defied a government whip on Wednesday and abstained instead of voting against a motion on a no-deal Brexit. The quartet were among 17 rebel ministers.

Julian Smith, the chief whip, told the cabinet that there could be no excuses for breaking collective responsibility ISABEL INFANTES/GETTY IMAGES

The cabinet source added that Mr Clark’s effort to justify his actions “ended badly” as Mrs May shut him down.

Julian Smith, the chief whip, also lost his cool, according to The Spectator. He told the