The prime minister called the meeting with Jacob Rees Mogg in a bid to try to heal party divisions over Brexit

Theresa May empathised with Jacob Rees-Mogg over his negative press coverage during a “peace” meeting at No 10 on Tuesday, The Times has learnt.

The prime minister invited Mr Rees-Mogg, leader of the hard-Brexit European Research Group (ERG), along with nine other Conservative MPs six days after a failed coup attempt.

Mrs May called the meeting to try to heal party divisions over Brexit. “She appealed to us as long-standing Conservatives to come together and find a way through,” one of those present said.

The source claimed that Mr Rees-Mogg said it was nice of the prime minister to invite him so soon after the vote of no confidence. “Even the policeman on the door looked surprised,” he was said to have told the