A plot by a pro-EU campaign group to oust 20 hard Brexit MPs has started to unravel after prominent Tory backers quit in disgust.

Nicky Morgan, Anna Soubry, Dominic Grieve, Alistair Burt and Neil Carmichael cut their ties with Open Britain after it drew up an "attack list" of mainly Tory MPs including Iain Duncan Smith.

The Telegraph understands that Conservative whips contacted the "remoaner" MPs after reports of the Open Britain hit list were published on Monday night.