A host of MPs (and many others) were quick to condemn the Daily Telegraph for branding Brexit rebels "mutineers" on its front page.

The paper went into Full Paul Dacre mode for Wednesday’s splash, with pictures of 15 MPs allegedly ready to block the government’s plan to write the exact date of Brexit into law.

One of the so-called mutineers, Anna Soubry, seized on the front page as it was revealed on social media on Thursday evening while the Commons was still sitting. She told the House: "This is a blatant piece of bullying that goes to the very heart of democracy."

On Twitter, Conservative minister Alistair Burt attacked the paper, saying: "Fabulous collection of some of the best MPs in the country. How small the Telegraph appears in comparison."

Even ardent Brexiteers quickly sought distance from the paper’s coverage with Brexit minister Steve Baker stating that "I regret any media attempts to divide our party" and Dominic Raab signalling his agreement.

But perhaps most stinging of all for The Telegraph will be the response of one of its former leading journalists.

Before entering parliament this year as MP for Boston and Skegness, Matt Warman spent over a decade at the paper – including a lengthy stint as its technology editor during which time he interviewed the likes of Jeff Bezos and Sir Tim Berners Lee.

He stated: "A Fleet St tragedy that my former employer seems no longer to even know what Parliament is for. I’ll vote with the government but questioning the integrity of these good people is anti-democratic madness."

Picture by: Joe Giddens/PA Wire/PA Images