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Nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow has sparked a lively Twitter debate by claiming the Brexit referendum was "a sham" and backing former PM Tony Blair.

The Sheffield-born entrepreneur, famous for his lapdancing clubs, surprised followers by branding Brexit a "massive mistake" as he condemned "untruths on both sides" and called for another vote.

His remarks were met with incredulity by some. One woman replied saying, "Peter, I always thought you were a hardcore Tory," to which he responded: "I'm a hardcore Englishman who doesn't believe in Brexit." He finished the tweet with the crumple-faced "weary" emoji.

The revelations began with a tweet by Mr Stringfellow reading: "This is not going to go down well BUT I now genuinely believe that Tony Blair is the man of the moment and before it's too late we should have another referendum !

"I believe it will be true democracy at work and no I haven't forgotten Iraq ! But Brexit is a massive mistake !"

His comment came after Tony Blair last week said billions being spent taking Britain out of the EU could be spent on the NHS instead.

The former PM said: "The NHS is frankly in a terrible situation, the Government...is going to be spending...£3 billion over the next two years directly on Brexit costs, you have got additional reductions in revenue as a result of the reductions in growth, and we hiring what is an extra 8,000 civil servants when we have got staff shortages in the NHS."

One woman replied to Mr Stringfellow to argue that June 2016's vote, which was technically an advisory referendum and not legally binding, should nonetheless be the end of the matter.

She wrote: "So we keep having referendums until you get the result you want? That's democracy for you. The people have spoken, Peter, deal with it."

Other pro-Brexit voices chipped in, with another woman saying: "Exactly!! The only disgrace is the divorce bill!! Yet again we have been robbed!"

Mr Stringfellow replied: "No I'm sorry but everybody knows the referendum was a sham becourse [sic] of so many untruths on both sides but this time we can have a truthful referendum ..if this time Brexit wins again then so be it !!"

He added: "Politically we are in a right mess on all parties ..Where is our " cometh the hour cometh the man" ??.Now we know the cost of leaving the EU and we know it's our children who are going to have to pay the price for what ?..a blue passport ?.."

Some mocked the businessman, 77, with one man calling him "gullible" and another saying our children would "thank us" for Brexit.

But Mr Stringfellow responded: "You could be right but I don't think so !..I don't remember anything being so wonderful before we joined the EU !!"