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One of Cornwall’s Conservative MPs has denied she said the Prime Minister should break the law.

South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray was reported to have urged Boris Johnson to ignore new legislation so he can take the UK out of the European Union without a deal on October 31.

The comments were reported by Buzzfeed News as coming from leaked WhatsApp messages among Conservative MPs.

The conversation began on Saturday evening, when Government chief whip Mark Spencer told the WhatsApp group that Johnson is "flat out trying to get a deal".

Backbench MP Kevin Hollinrake, who has said he will resign the Conservative whip if Johnson breaks the law, replied asking: "Government has the right to ignore legislation?"

Brexit supporter Sheryll Murray responded: "I hope so."

She was backed up by fellow Brexiteer Chris Green, the MP for Bolton West and a member of the Home Affairs select committee, who asked: "The government has the right and obligation to respect and deliver upon a referendum decision that Parliament gave to the British people?"

Murray replied: "Majority of my constituents I've spoken to agree — I so hope so."

However, she has issued a statement to Cornwall Live denying her comments meant she wanted the PM to break the law.

“I do not believe that the Prime Minister should break the law and have not said that. To claim otherwise is wholly wrong.

“I have spent a considerable amount of time knocking on doors in my South East Cornwall constituency. There is a consistent message that people want to get Brexit done by October 31 and I encourage the PM to use all legal means to achieve this date."

As a result of the reported WhatsApp comments, Ms Murray’s Lib Dem opponent in her constituency has said she isn’t fit to be an MP.

Colin Martin said: "Any MP who encourages the Prime Minister to break a law passed by Parliament isn’t fit to be a member of it. What's even more shocking is that Ms Murray and some of her colleagues don't even seem to know whether or not the Prime Minister is above the law!"