ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Brexit Secretary David Davis has secured a victory over Chancellor Philip Hammond by persuading the Cabinet to endorse curbs on immigration, Tory MPs said today.

They claimed the key conclusion of yesterday’s special Cabinet at Chequers, that Britain would seek a “unique” deal with the EU and reject free movement rules, was a defeat for the Chancellor who is worried about trade and the City.

Allies of Mr Davis say he now wants to make a Commons statement setting out the next steps in the Brexit process, to send a powerful signal to other Cabinet ministers not to stray onto his turf. “He is in charge and it is now clear he has the Prime Minister’s authority behind him,” crowed an ally.

Mr Hammond was with Mrs May touring the Midlands this morning, promising that Britain was “open for business” as it leaves the EU.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was meanwhile embarking on a three-day tour for talks with ministers, starting with a summit in Potsdam near Berlin where he will meet Ukraine foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin, followed by a meeting in Vienna.

A campaign group today claimed the EU referendum was dogged by “glaring democratic deficiencies” that left voters in the dark.

The Electoral Reform Society called for a new body to “call out” politicians who make misleading claims during any future referendum. Its report found voters were increasingly turned off by bogus claims.

Katie Ghose, its chief executive, said: “This report shows without a shadow of a doubt just how dire the EU referendum debate really was.

“There were glaring democratic deficiencies in the run-up to the vote, with the public feeling totally ill-informed.

“Both sides were viewed as highly negative by voters, while the top-down, personality-based nature of the debate failed to address major policies and issues, leaving the public in the dark.” Polls by the ERS showed the intervention of high-profile political figures such as President Obama “largely failed to engage or convince voters”.

David Cameron’s prominent role may have backfired, as 29 per cent of voters said he made them more likely to vote.

The polls said the only high-profile figures who persuaded voters of their position were Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump, all anti-establishment, pro-Brexit figures.