In a three hour no-deal Cabinet where every minister was intent of having their say, David Gauke's unique choice of metaphor ensured that his contribution stood out.

According to one Cabinet source he told colleagues that "managed" no-deal is like a "unicorn that needs to be slaughtered."

"Managed no-deal is not a viable option," he said. "It's not on offer from the EU and the responsibility of Cabinet ministers is not to propagate unicorns but to slay them."

Amber Rudd, the Work and Pensions Secretary, also made clear that she could not support a no-deal Brexit. "Just because you've put a seatbelt on it doesn't mean you crash the car," she said.

She urged colleagues to "consider the job losses under no-deal" and think of the impact it will have on their constituencies. She told colleagues to "put country before politics" and work with Labour and other opposition parties to avert no deal.

Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, also compared a managed no-deal to a "unicorn".

However, Ms Rudd, Mr Gauke and other Remain Cabinet ministers - some of whom are threatening to quit in the event of a no-deal Brexit - were in the minority.

The fractious meeting saw them clash repeatedly with Eurosceptics, who insisted that Britain must leave the EU with or without a deal in March of next year to fulfil the referendum.