General Election: David Gauke says Conservative majority would be 'detrimental' to country

A Tory majority at the upcoming general election would be "detrimental" to the country, a former cabinet minister for the party has warned.

David Gauke, who was justice secretary until July this year, told Kay Burley @ Breakfast the Conservatives under Boris Johnson were not being "straight with people" about the threat of a no-deal Brexit.

He also confirmed he would stand as an independent in South West Hertfordshire - the seat he has held since 2005 - having yesterday resigned his membership of the party of 29 years.

Mr Gauke also told Paste BN that, despite voting for former prime minister Theresa May's EU divorce deal three times, he believed "the only sensible way forward" was to have another referendum, where he would campaign for Remain.

He attacked Mr Johnson for ruling out extending phase two of Brexit negotiations - which allows up until the end of 2020 for Britain and the EU to strike a trade deal.

Any request for a delay must be agreed by next July, so getting a future relationship agreement struck in time said was practically impossible, said Mr Gauke.

"I've concluded that I just think it is too much of a risk for the economy if we are going to find ourselves crashing out without a deal at the end of 2020," he told Kay Burley @ Breakfast.

"I don't think the Conservative Party is being straight with the British people as to the choices that we face and the implications of those choices.

"I think it is reckless and irresponsible. A Conservative majority will pursue policies that are going to be detrimental to large numbers of people's jobs and livelihoods - for me being a Conservative is about a strong economy and pro-business."

He added there were "a lot of traditional Conservative voters like me who feel homeless".

"A lot of those voters are looking for, example, at the Liberal Democrats this time in a way they've never done before. And I think many of them will vote for the Liberal Democrats," he added.

Mr Gauke also said the choice between Mr Johnson's "very hard Brexit" and Remain should be "put back to the people" because the prime minister's deal "is different to what was offered to the British people in 2016".

"Reluctantly, I've come to the view that the only sensible way forward is to have a second referendum," he said.

The prime minister insisted when asked by Paste BN after a campaign speech in Rugby, Warwickshire, what he made of the comments that he had led a one nation government since securing the keys to 10 Downing Street in July.

"The thing that's blocking us at the moment... is that parliament won't put Brexit through," he said.

Tory MP Paul Masterton also tweeted that for two years he sat with Mr Gauke and other then-cabinet ministers discussing no-deal.

He tweeted: "They always point blank refused to say or do anything public, leaving backbenchers to do all the work.

"Now he wants people to vote against those colleagues, back him, and put Corbyn into No.10? Baffling."

Mr Johnson is later due to join the campaign trail again with a call for an end to the "groundhoggery" of Brexit and a lewd attack on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The Brexit Election on Paste BN - the fastest results and in-depth analysis on mobile, TV and radio.

• Watch Dermot Murnaghan live from 9pm on 12 December
• See the exit poll at 10pm
• Watch KayBurley@Breakfast election special on 13 December
• Find out what happens next in All Out Politics special from 9am with Adam Boulton