The remarks were made by a senior figure in the Conservative Party who has strong social connections to the Prime Minister. “There’s really no problem,” the Conservative figure said about the parliamentary turmoil. “The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad swivel-eyed loons.”

Grassroots campaigners said tonight that the comments showed “utter disregard” for the party’s membership and showed Mr Cameron is out of touch.

More than 150 Conservative MPs are expected to vote against Mr Cameron’s plans to legalise same-sex marriage next week when the legislation returns to the House of Commons.

This week, 116 Conservative backbenchers – more than half the total – voted to criticise Mr Cameron’s Queen’s Speech programme for failing to include legislation on a European Union referendum.