Theresa May is under intense pressure as she attempts to secure a Brexit deal with the EU, not least from her own party, who are the most divided Tory government of the post-war era.

At least one MP has rebelled in 28 per cent of parliamentary divisions since the surprise snap election in 2017, new research has found.

This is the highest proportion of rebellions that any Conservative leader has faced while in power since World War Two.

To avoid yet another defeat on Tuesday, May postponed a major vote on her Brexit deal - which appeared to be heading towards a heavy defeat - on Monday morning.

The research, conducted by political science academics Professor Philip Cowley, Dr Mark Stuart and Professor Philip Norton and supplemented by The Telegraph, shows that the current Tory backbenchers are the joint second most rebellious of the post war era.

Only the coalition government has experienced more dissent. From 2010 to 2015, backbenchers rebelled in 35 per cent of divisions, discounting free votes, including significant rebellions on flagship legislation.