A TORY MP who previously demanded the names of academics teaching about European affairs for a book he was writing has admitted "there isn't a book".

Chris Heaton-Harris, a fanatical Brexiteer, asked vice-chancellors in 2017 to send him details of any courses that may be teaching about Brexit, as well as the names of lecturers.

Jo Johnson, who was Education Secretary at the time, claimed that the request was part of research for a book that Heaton-Harris was working on.

However when asked about the claims on Sophy Ridge on Sunday, the Daventry MP laughed and admitted that "there isn't a book".

Lol. @chhcalling on @SophyRidgeSky admits he was not researching a book when he wrote to unis asking for Brexit teaching, as @JoJohnsonUK claimed at the time pic.twitter.com/OJlHrpH7MF — Emilio Casalicchio (@e_casalicchio) February 17, 2019

The letter, sent in October 2017, asked university bosses to supply Heaton-Harris with the “names of professors at your establishment who are involved in the teaching of European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit.”

It went on: “Furthermore, if I could be provided with a copy of the syllabus and links to the online lectures which relate to this area I would be much obliged.”

Though reports suggested the MP had sent the letter to every higher education institution in the UK, it wasn’t entirely clear which of Scotland’s 15 universities were on his list.

Glasgow, Dundee, Robert Gordon’s and the University of the Highlands and Islands all told The National they had not received a letter.

Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow Caledonian, Heriot-Watt, Queen Margaret and St Andrews did receive the MP’s request.

St Andrews said it would not be complying with the request. A spokesman said: “Brexit is a major and developing European event and it would be surprising and disappointing if it did not influence broad parts of our curriculum now and in future.

“Our only Brexit-specific course at present, however, is a non-degree-bearing evening class on Wines of the European Union and Brexit, for which we would be happy to send Mr Heaton-Harris a leaflet.

“We will, of course, not be providing the names of academic staff per his written request.”

The Government, embarrassed by Heaton-Harris’s actions, distanced itself from the requests which were made.

“Chris Heaton-Harris wrote to universities in his capacity as an MP, not as a representative of the Government,” the Prime Minister’s spokesman said.

Government senior whip @chhcalling asks all Universities to supply names of Profs teaching & course materials on Brexit via @Claire_Phipps pic.twitter.com/LMjFQNfOkL — Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) October 24, 2017

“I think what the Prime Minister has always been very clear on is her respect for the freedom and independence of universities and the role they play in creating open and stimulating debate.”

Johnson tweeted at the time: “Academic freedom absolutely fundamental and protected in statute in our recent Higher Education & Research Act 2017.”

A sheepish Heaton-Harris tried to clarify his position via Twitter. “To be absolutely clear, I believe in free speech in our universities and in having an open and vigorous debate on Brexit,” he wrote.

Professor David Green, vice-chancellor of Worcester University, said he felt a chill down his spine when he read the “sinister” request.

“This letter just asking for information appears so innocent but is really so, so dangerous,” he said.

“Here is the first step to the thought police, the political censor and newspeak, naturally justified as ‘the will of the British people’, a phrase to be found on Mr Heaton-Harris’s website.”

A spokeswoman for Queen Margaret University said: “We have advised Mr Heaton-Harris that there are no professors at QMU lecturing on European Affairs post-Brexit.

“Beyond that, we are committed to academic freedom and would echo wording in a statement issued today by Universities UK that it is essential that universities remain places where free speech flourishes.

“This means protecting independence in academic study, encouraging rigorous debate and providing opportunities to hear and challenge a diverse range of views.”