GETTY David Cameron is calling on MPs to oppose Theresa May’s Brexit plans, reveals party source

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In a major intervention that will infuriate Theresa May, the former prime minister is said to have telephoned a string of Tory MPs in recent days to argue that Government should seek the so-called "Norway option" for the UK's future relationship with the EU. His proposal - which directly conflicts with Mrs May's Brexit blueprint - would mean Britain staying in the European Economic Area (EEA), a free trade zone that includes the 28 current EU member nations along with non-EU countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The intervention has angered Euro-sceptic Tories, who point out that EEA membership entails keeping an open-door to EU migrants and remaining within the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. It could also mean British taxpayers continuing to pay a substantial membership fee. A senior Tory MP said: "Cameron has been in touch with a number of backbenchers this week, trying to persuade them that the country should go for the Norway option. "It is extraordinary that he is arguing in favour of the EEA membership given that he claimed it would be a disaster for the UK during the referendum."

Cameron has been in touch with a number of backbenchers this week Senior Tory MP

The MP added: "I don't think he is getting much support. "If he called me my response would be - who are you?" Another senior Tory MP said: "Before he blunders into this, he should look at the numbers in last week's Commons vote on the Queen Speech, which overwhelmingly endorsed leaving the customs union, the Single Market and the Jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice." Mr Cameron is understood to have been contacting Tories who backed his failed Remain campaign in last year's EU referendum.

Remoaners Club: These people hate Brexit! Mon, January 16, 2017 Remainers are finding it hard to accept Brexit. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 14 NICK CLEGG

He is known to be distraught about the prospect of going down in history as the prime minister who triggered the country's departure from the EU by calling the referendum and then going on to lose it. Some Tories suspect he is now desperate to minimise the extent of the break with Brussels to make up for his failure to keep the UK in the bloc. Yet his alleged support for EEA membership flies in the face of his rubbishing the "Norway option" in the run up to EU referendum. In October 2015, Mr Cameron said he would "guard very strongly against" emulating Norway's relationship with Brussels.

GETTY The former Prime Minister and Remainer is said to have phoned a group of Tory MPs

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions at the time, he told MPs: "If we don't get what we need in our negotiations I rule nothing out, but I do think it's important that as we have this debate as a nation that we are very clear about the facts and figures of the alternatives. "Some people arguing for Britain to leave the European Union - not all people, but some people - have particularly pointed to the position of Norway saying that is a good outcome. I would guard very strongly against that. "Norway actually pays as much per head to the EU as we do. They actually take twice as many per head migrants as we do in this country but of course they have no seat at the table, no ability to negotiate.

"I'm not arguing that all those who want to leave the EU say they want to follow the Norwegian path but some do and I think it's very important in this debate that we are absolutely clear about the consequences of these actions." The Treasury then published an analysis of the potential economic impact of adopting various alternative models for links with Brussels that pointed out that Norway was "obliged to accept the free movement of people" from the EU and "makes a significant contribution to EU spending". Former Tory minister John Redwood, a veteran Euro-sceptic who was not among the MPs contacted by Mr Cameron, was intrigued to hear about the phone calls. Mr Redwood said yesterday: "I find it very surprising given what happened during the referendum campaign. I remember that both the Remain and Leave campaigns being crystal clear that Brexit would mean leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union.

"The Norway model was never an option for the UK. It was one of the few things that both sides were agreed upon." Steve Baker, a leading Leave campaigner who was recently promoted from the backbenchers to become a junior minsters at the Department for Exiting the EU, yesterday warned that staying in the EEA after Brexit would be a huge mistake for the country. He told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "It is the case that some people would like to reinvent things. "We have taken a major strategic decision to leave the European Union.

GETTY Cameron wants MPs to pressure the Government into opting for a ‘Norway model’