“We now face the most momentous peacetime decision,” said Heseltine, as Lords hand government their second Brexit bill defeat.

Speaking during a debate on Theresa May's deal, he responded to Environment Secretary Michael Gove. "The one line I enjoyed best out of all of this, and it was the way he told it: 'The EU will look on enviously at the UK with this Brexit'. You could almost hear the shrieks of laughter coming across the North Sea and the English Channel as they observe the plight of this pitiful nation."

'It is the first time in our long history that any British government has embraced a policy of self-harm, despite their own advisers warning that it will make our nation weaker – and our people poorer.'