A Government aide to Philip Hammond said he is willing to risk losing his job in order to address a People’s Vote rally as he said it would be “nonsensical” for him to be sacked for speaking his mind.

Huw Merriman, a Tory MP and parliamentary private secretary to the Chancellor, said he supported a second referendum because he believes it is the only way to deliver Brexit.

Mr Merriman voted in favour of holding a second referendum when MPs held indicative votes on different Brexit options and he said it would be the “politics of the mad house” if he was fired for explaining that decision.

Whips had made it clear to him that he would be sacked or forced to resign if he went ahead with his plan to address a second referendum meeting on Tuesday, he said.

Mr Merriman said he expected to be “pelted by tomatoes” at the meeting because he would be arguing in favour of Theresa May’s Brexit deal and a referendum ballot paper which pitched that agreement against revoking Article 50.

He said: “I am going to speak and I think it is really important to explain the way I voted last week.

“But also I think it is important to explain to that rally that they don’t just speak for people who want to Remain, they need to speak for people that actually want the Prime Minister’s deal through and to leave the EU which is what I support.”