Now it must be said that not everyone finds Brexit gripping or exciting. Not even some MPs.

And, to be fair, the views on the subject of Ken Clarke, Father of the House of Commons and an unrepentant Remainer, are well known.

But for fellow Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne, an officer in the Territorial Army for 30 years who served in Iraq, Mr Clarke's latest speech was all too much.

As the veteran pro-European attacked the Government - again - during the report stage of the EU Withdrawal Bill, Sir Desmond - sat directly behind Mr Clarke - nodded off.

And as 40 winks go, it was a spectacular public display.


At one point Sir Desmond was leaning to one side so much that he appeared to be in danger of falling off the bench.

The 61-year-old is not normally one of Parliament's slackers.

He's a fitness fanatic who used to run with David Cameron when he was the former prime minister's parliamentary private secretary.

Image: Sir Desmond Swayne slept as fellow Tory MP Ken Clarke spoke about Brexit

Sir Desmond's an energetic cyclist, too. And he's well known for his early morning dip in the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park.

He swims a quarter of a mile every day when Parliament is sitting.

And there's his explanation for his lapse in concentration during Mr Clarke's speech.

"Forgive me," he apologised later.

"I was in the Serpentine at 0530 and on the 11th day we have debated this bill, it took its toll."

That's all very well.

But Brexiteer Sir Desmond does have a bit of form for appearing to show Mr Clarke a lack of respect during the great man's anti-Brexit Commons contributions.

He has been seen pulling faces, grimacing or making gestures behind Mr Clarke on at least three occasions in the past year: last January and then in November and again in December.

And surely, swimming in the icy Serpentine in the very early morning is supposed to wake bathers up, rather than sending them to sleep, isn't it, Sir Desmond?