Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart and his 20 fellow Tory rebels have won backing from former Prime Minister David Cameron.

In a Radio 4 interview, Mr Cameron - who led the Remain camp in the run-up to the 2016 Brexit referendum - called on Boris Johnson’s to reinstate the 21 Conservative MPs, expelled from their party for backing a law to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Cameron told veteran journalist John Humphrys he disagreed with the Prime Minister taking the whip from 21 “hard-working, loyal, conservatives”. He said: “If it isn’t reversed it would be disastrous.”

Officials from the Penrith and the Border Conservative Association confirmed that Mr Stewart’s membership of the Association was now formally suspended. It is understood views within the association’s executive committee range from support for the MP to support for Mr Johnson.

Meanwhile, there have been reports that Scottish Conservative Party officials in Mr Stewart’s childhood home in Perthshire are keen for him to stand there. Some see him as a natural successor to the outgoing leader Ruth Davidson.

“The local party would welcome him with open arms,” said one source.

Mr Stewart has said he may stand as an independent Conservative for Penrith and the Border if not readmitted to the party. He this week told GQ magazine: “I want to harness the compassion of the left, the anger and shame of the left, and the patriotism and belief in freedom and liberty of the right and put them together.”