Broadcasters – including the BBC – failed to report Mr Hannan’s onslaught despite giving full coverage to Mr Brown’s most pro-European speech to date.

But it was quickly posted on YouTube and news outlets from Australia to America seized on his comments…

Mr Hannan, who represents South East England, said he had been stunned by the response. He said: ‘I suspect what has happened is that a lot of people have wanted to say something similar to him and have never had the chance.

‘There is something very surreal about a speech in the European Parliament – one of the most boring places on earth – causing so much excitement.’