TORY leadership hopeful Esther McVey has accused MPs of trying to prevent Brexit by “tearing up 400 years of history” as she defended her plan to prorogue Parliament if she becomes prime minister.

The former work and pensions secretary would discontinue the parliamentary session, without dissolving it, in order to leave the EU without a deal.

McVey said it would not be her “priority” to suspend sittings in the House of Commons ahead of the October 31 Brexit deadline, but she added that she would “use all the tools at our disposal” if she did become Theresa May’s successor.

Talking to The Andrew Marr Show, she said: “That wouldn’t be my priority, I wouldn’t be looking to do that, no, what I’ve said is we would use all the tools at our disposal.

“What we have seen by MPs going against the democratic vote of the country, is they have torn up 400 years of history.

“They’ve ripped up the rule book, so it seems somewhat wrong to me that people wanting to frustrate the vote can rip up the rule book, yet should I want to use any tools at my disposal I would be seen as incorrect when I’m helping ensure the democratic will of the people. Can you see a conflict of thought in that process?”

Asked if she would work with Nigel Farage, given her views on Brexit are closely aligned with his, she rejected the idea, saying: “What I would be doing is delivering Brexit so we don’t need a Brexit Party once we’ve delivered Brexit.”

And she defended her plans to have a Cabinet full of only Brexiteers, saying there is limited time until October 31 and she cannot have people who are not “committed” to leaving on that date in her top team, even if that means sacking numerous senior ministers.

McVey said that if an MP had originally voted Remain, but now agreed the UK should leave the EU by October 31, then they would be allowed to stay.

She added that once the UK exits the EU, “anybody can be in the Cabinet”.

Also in the television appearance, the Tory MP confirmed she had never taken Class A drugs after her leadership rival Michael Gove admitted to using cocaine “more than 20 years ago”.

She said it should not bar him from becoming Tory leader, but added that she hoped “people will actually judge him on how good he’s been as a politician”.

McVey’s views were in stark contrast to Gove’s, who in another interview with Andrew Marr said proroguing Parliament would be wrong “for many reasons”.

“I argued that we should leave the European Union because I wanted us to take back control of our democracy, and that means putting Parliament at the centre of decision making.”

And Rory Stewart called for all the contenders to clarify their position on prorogation, saying: “Locking the door on Parliament would be offensive, undemocratic and ultimately futile.”