Brexit 'betrayal' row sparks furious backlash as Kemi Badenoch labels Labour 'tired clowns'

She argued Labour had already poorly negotiated the handover of the Chagos Islands and agreed to a "one-in, one-out" deal with France.

The Leader of the Opposition went on to suggest ex-Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham would buckle to Brussels in any reset negotiations.

Mrs Badenoch told The Daily Mail: "What we see before us is a timid and tired Labour Party, exhausted after less than two years in Government.

"Does anyone believe these clowns can negotiate with the EU?

"They're terrified of making any difficult decisions and will only end up giving away power and money just like they did with their terrible Chagos deal and the failed one-in, one-out deal with France."

She added: "It will be a disaster for the country, and they will reap the whirlwind if they plunge us back into the Brexit wars, ignoring the clear message the country sent in the referendum of 2016 and the elections of 2017 and 2019 – Get Brexit Done."

Lord Gove, who was a leading architect of the Vote Leave campaign, also warned: "The drive towards rejoining is not just acceleration into an economic cul-de-sac, it is also a betrayal of the democratic vote which politicians promised would be honoured and respected."

The fiery Brexit row was sparked by Mr Streeting declaring his support for the UK rejoining the EU.

Launching his leadership bid, the Ilford North MP said: "We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe and one day, one day, back in the European Union.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, whose allies accused Mr Streeting of sabotage, is watering down his previous calls to rejoin the Brussels bloc.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Makerfield, Mr Burnham said: “I’ve said in the long-term there is a case for that, but I'm not advocating that in this by-election.”

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is now expected to make Mr Burnham's stance on Brexit a key pillar of his campaign to take another chunk out of the Red Wall in the Makerfield by-election.

He said: "Open borders Burnham’ wants to give 500 million people the right to move here without any thought on how this would affect schools, doctors and dentists.

“It’s quite clear that this by-election is now a choice between Reform, who want to stay outside of the EU, control immigration and deport all illegals, and Labour, who want to rejoin the EU and open the borders.”

Labour insiders now fear the Brexit row could play into Mr Farage's hands, with Makerfield voting decisively to leave the EU in 2016.

“I despair," a senior source told The Times. "It’s like a gift to Farage.

"What Wes did reeks of desperation and selfishness.”

Meanwhile, Mr Streeting's allies jovially pointed out that Mr Burnham's position is broadly similar to the ex-Health Secretary's call to rejoin the Brussels bloc.

“I thought they agreed on this,” a source close to the Ilford North MP said. “The problem is that we’re so worried that there might be people who disagree with us if we do something that we end up doing nothing."

However, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is urging Labour leadership contenders not to relitigate the Brexit debate.

Ms Nandy, who represents the neighbouring Leave-voting seat of Wigan, told GB News: “To respond to that with re-entering the European Union seems to me to be a fundamental misreading of what people are asking us for.

“If going back into the EU was the answer to the problems that people have in their lives, then we would be telling people in towns like mine that everything was fine in 2015. It absolutely wasn't."