More than half the public believe the admission of previously taking cocaine should disqualify people from being an MP, says a survey that will be a blow to Michael Gove’s hopes of weathering the storm over his drug revelation.

The YouGov poll of 1,677 people shows 56 per cent of the population believe it is not acceptable for someone who has ever taken cocaine to be a member of Parliament.

The research suggests that even if Mr Gove manages to persuade MPs to back him for Prime Minister and allow him to put his case to the membership, he faces a potential backlash from the Conservative grassroots.

The poll shows two-thirds of Conservative voters (67 per cent) believe it is unacceptable for someone who has taken cocaine to be an MP, compared with 48 per cent of Labour voters and 53 per cent of LibDems.

It is the same proportion among Brexit-supporting members of the public where 67 per cent felt taking cocaine was unworthy of an MP, against 46 per cent of Remain voters.