Theresa May's chief of staff and her de-facto deputy have been branded "completely insane" by Cabinet ministers after allegedly talking up the prospect of a second referendum.

Gavin Barwell and David Lidington, the Cabinet Office Minister, have reportedly been laying the groundwork for a new vote on the UK leaving the European Union.

The revelation prompted fury among senior Conservatives as the pair were accused of “betrayal” and warned that such a move would “damage trust in democracy”.

Mr Lidington held talks with Labour MPs last week about winning cross-party backing for a second referendum while Mr Barwell told a Cabinet minister another national vote was “the only way forward”, according to the Sunday Times.

The pair were directly challenged on Sunday about their alleged comments by two former ministers on Twitter.

Mr Barwell said he did not want a second referendum, was not planning for one and he was “off to play football”. He did not directly address the suggestion he had talked up the prospect of another vote.

Meanwhile, Mr Lidington did not deny that he had held talks and simply referenced previous comments he had made on the subject when he said a second referendum would be “divisive” and not necessarily “decisive”.