Among the 200 MPs who gave their support to the Prime Minister this week to continue as leader was Chesham and Amersham MP Dame Cheryl Gillan.

Mrs Gillan has been a staunch supporter of Mrs May, standing up for her in a debate on exiting the European Union on Monday this week.

In response to Labour’s Dennis Skinner, who called Mrs May “frit” after saying she had “handed over power” to negotiators in Europe rather than MPs in the House of Commons, Mrs Gillan said: “Far from being frit, I think this Prime Minister has great courage in coming back to face this House and delay the vote in an effort to get the best possible deal for this country.”

“Quite frankly, some people who voted in the referendum did so for the first time, and they decided to accept the result no matter on which side they voted.

“Surely we should not be letting them down; they will see little point in exercising their vote again if the result is not honoured and we call a second referendum.”

Her last comment drew support from Mrs May, who said: “Those people, many of whom voted for the first time at all or the first time in decades when they voted in the referendum in 2016, will indeed question why they should vote in future if this Parliament does not deliver on that vote.”

Mrs May will continue as leader after winning a vote of confidence by 200 to 117, securing 63 per cent of the vote.

The vote was triggered by 48 MPs furious at her Brexit policy.

Speaking after the vote, Mrs Gillan said: “Thank you to all those constituents who let me know their views on the vote of confidence on the leader of the Conservative party.”

“Theresa May MP gained over 63 per cent of the vote and all 317 members voted. She cannot be challenged now under Conservative party rules for 12 months.

“Interestingly this contrasts with the vote of no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn in 2016 when 172 Labour MPs voted to have no confidence in his leadership and only 40 MPs supported him.

“Of course, Labour rules meant that he did not have to step down.”