WYCOMBE MP Steve Baker had waded into the row over the impartiality of the BBC with Britain post-Brexit.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons today, Mr Baker, the Tory MP for Wycombe and fellow Leave campaigner, attacked the BBC during for trying to "manufacture" stories about Tory MPs rebelling over Brexit.

Speaking ahead of an opposition day debate in the Commons on the Government's Brexit plan, Mr Baker said: "I expect you will be astonished if not aghast to learn that a succession of journalists from the BBC have contacted me seeking to create, to manufacture, stories of backbench rebellion on the issue of the EU.

"Will you agree with me that on these controversial issues the BBC should stick to its charter obligations on accuracy and impartiality instead of seeking to create problems for the Government?"

Commons Leader David Lidington,  who stood in for Theresa May at PMQs because the Prime Minister is out of the country, prompted laughter across the House when he replied: "Well, I'm sure that you are shocked, shocked, at the thought anybody could look to him as a source of information about rebellions against the Government.

"I hope you will be able to find some comfort in the fact that the new royal charter and agreement require the BBC to deliver impartial news, the very first time impartiality has been enshrined in the BBC's mission."

It is understood BBC journalists had tried to verify reports that as many as 40 Tory rebels were planning to defy the Government during Wednesday's Brexit debate.

A BBC spokesman said: "The BBC continues to report impartially on UK political events as they happen."

Earlier during PMQs, a Tory MP suggested the European Union should have to pay to trade with Britain post-Brexit.

The possibility of the UK paying for access to the European single market after its divorce from Brussels is being considered by the Government.

But Peter Bone, the Conservative MP for Wellingborough and Leave campaigner, said paying for market access should cut both ways as he raised the issue during PMQs.

He said: "There has been much talk recently about paying for access to a tariff-free single market. I think that's a very good idea.

"Given that the United Kingdom is the fifth biggest economy in the world and we have a £70 billion trade deficit with the EU, would the excellent acting prime minister tell the House how much the European Union should pay for tariff-free access to the United Kingdom single market?"

Mr Lidington replied: "I suppose I should say thank you to my honourable friend for the upgrade although I hope that doesn't turn out to be a career limiting compliment.

"You make a good point in that a settlement at the end of our negotiation which maintains maximum access to and freedom to operate within the European market for UK companies elsewhere in Europe and European companies here is in our mutual interests and I hope that will inspire negotiators on both sides."

Brexit Secretary David Davis previously told MPs that ministers want to "get the best possible access for goods and services to the European market" and suggested the Government is open to the possibility of making contributions to the EU to secure that access.