The new Commission is due to take up office on Nov 1 and there are concerns that it would not be “legally constituted” without a Commissioner from every member state - which could paralyse the body’s decision making functions.

Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s Permanent Representative in Brussels, wrote to the EU's transition team in August, confirming the UK would not be sending a commissioner.

Speaking to Chopper's Brexit Podcast at Podcast Live in central London yesterday, Mr Baker said: "I don't think we should leave ourselves in a position where we don't appoint a commissioner.

"I think we should appoint a commissioner. I think we should appoint somebody with about 20 years' experience, we should appoint somebody who is incredibly well known throughout the institutions.

"Somebody who will be absolutely relied upon at all times to support our exit from the European Union, and therefore I unashamedly back Nigel Farage to be our next EU Commissioner in the unfortunate event that it transpires - though I think it unlikely - that we have to remain in.

"This approach is inspired by the film Armageddon. There is that moment when they are trying to save the world and so what they do is they land on the asteroid and they put a nuclear weapon into the heart of the asteroid. Nigel Farage is that nuclear weapon."

Mr Baker said that his "sympathy has dramatically increased the more that I am demonised".

He added: "The more I am demonised the more I realise that Nigel Farage has made mistakes, like that blasted poster with the queue on it, but he has paid a very high price to keep flying the flag in an uncompromising way.

"He has earned my respect. I don't think he will ever earn the respect of the Establishment but you can say he has earned my respect although I have disagreed with him on tactical points.

"He has said and done things in ways with which I would not want to be associated with, [but] nevertheless I recognise that he has borne a very heavy burden in allowing himself to represent this cause of democracy and be demonised for it."