More than 100 Tory MPs want to stop Brexit, says Ken Clarke More than 100 Conservative MPs “desperately” want the UK to stay a member of the EU but are too frightened […]

More than 100 Conservative MPs “desperately” want the UK to stay a member of the EU but are too frightened to speak out against Brexit in public, according to a book due to be published next week.

The claim, which was made by the party’s former Chancellor Ken Clarke shortly after the result of the historic referendum in June, suggests the Tories are far less united on the issue of Britain’s departure from the European Union than Theresa May might hope.

“MPs should have the balls to say and vote for what they deem right for their country” The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription. Sir Tam Dalyell

The story of apparent disunity in the Tory ranks is included in a new book by Labour grandee Sir Tam Dalyell, who served as an MP for more than 40 years and has long counted Mr Clarke as a friend despite their political differences.

“I am told by my friend and political opponent Ken Clarke, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, that as I write in June 2016, there are more than 100 Tory MPs wandering around, dazed, desperately wanting to remain in Europe, but hesitant to deny the ‘mantra’ – his word – of the will of the people,” Mr Dalyell writes.

The former Labour MP says the reluctant Tories have a “duty” to speak out and that if they do not they are “cowards”. He acknowledges that defying the referendum result might spark “civil disorder”, but claims that this will happen anyway when people start to lose their jobs as a result of Brexit.

“MPs should have the balls to say and vote for what they deem right for their country, on such an important issue, for young people and generations to come in particular,” he writes.

House of Commons vote

The story is contained in the epilogue to Sir Tam’s book The Question of Scotland: Devolution and After, which is due to be published on Tuesday and sees him discussing the impact of devolution on the overall unity of the UK.

While the prospect of a mass Tory rebellion over Brexit is extremely unlikely, several MPs have suggested that as the EU referendum was technically “advisory” the decision should be put to a parliamentary vote once the terms of the UK’s exit become clear.

Various leading lawyers, including the barrister Geoffrey Robertson, have also claimed that MPs will have to vote on a new bill to repeal the 1972 European Communities Act before the UK can formally leave the EU – meaning that the House of Commons may yet have a say.

The Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who is chairing a group called Vote Leave Watch in the wake of the referendum, said: “Senior members of the Vote Leave campaign, from Boris Johnson and Andrea Leadsom to David Davis and Priti Patel, promised greater prosperity outside of Europe, and brushed off every warning about the consequences.

“They are now senior cabinet ministers – these people aren’t just running a political campaign any more, they’re running the country.

“If they want what is best for this country, it is vital that Tory MPs hold these new cabinet members to account for the promises and claims they made during the referendum campaign.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Clarke said he was currently away and could not be reached, while the Conservatives did not respond to a request for comment.