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Tory David Davis nearly fell flat on his face as he fled the stage following a Brexit speech, before hiding in a room to avoid questions from reporters.

The flighty Brexit Secretary risked injury in his haste to exit after his speech to the Deal or No Deal conference in London.

The former SAS trooper stumbled from the platform after a key speech where he failed to take questions.

He then bundled into a nearby room, barricaded by lackeys for about half an hour.

An aide was seen carrying four coffee mugs into the ministerial safe haven - suggesting the Cabinet hard man had sufficient time to sip a hot drink but not enough to face a grilling over the Government giving the green light to an estimated £40billion EU divorce bill.

Security guards blocked a corridor outside the Secretary of State’s sanctuary before he was apparently smuggled out of a back door.

(Image: AFP)

Mr Davis’ fall and subsequent hideaway triggered an outpouring of mockery.

Former Special Boat Service officer and ex-Lib Dem leader Lord Paddy Ashdown said: “David Davis has completely failed in the face of adversity.

"Instead of showing off a bit of Dunkirk Spirit he ducked questions, fell off the stage, and hid behind the nearest door.

“This is less a case of who dares wins and more a case of duck and cover.”

Open Britain Deputy Director Francis Grove-White said: “If David Davis carries on like this, he and his Cabinet colleagues are going to take Britain stumbling off a hard Brexit cliff edge.

“We’ve already seen prices rise and Government borrowing increase as a result of Brexit, and leaving the single market and the customs union, as the Government has decided to do, will result in less trade with our largest export market, hitting those on low incomes hardest.”

(Image: PA)

In his speech, he insisted reaching a deal with the European Union was the most likely outcome of talks, but added that the British government was prepared for no agreement with the bloc.

"Reaching a deal with the European Union is not only far and away the most likely outcome, it's also the best outcome for our country," he said.

"I don't think it would be in the interest for either side for there to be no deal. But as a responsible government it is right that we make every plan for every eventuality."

It comes as the Prime Minister faces a backlash from Eurosceptic backbenchers over her plan to promise Brussels a divorce payment of up to €40 billion in return for trade talks commencing in December.

(Image: AFP)

Former minister Robert Halfon told Sky News: "The public will go bananas if we end up giving nearly €40 billion to the European Union."

EU President Donald Tusk has set a deadline of the start of next month for Britain to make further movement on the divorce bill and the Irish border issue in order for the EU heads of government summit on December 14-15 to allow talks on a future trade relationship to begin.

If agreement is not reached before the summit, trade talks could be delayed until next March.