“A Conservative MEP has come under fire for suggesting that Britain’s Treason Act should be updated to apply to citizens who are “working undemocratically against UK through extreme EU loyalty”.

David Bannerman, a former Ukip deputy leader who defected back to the Conservatives in 2011, told the Guardian he was referring to those who might leak confidential information that would damage Britain’s interests after Brexit.

The MEP tweeted on Wednesday: “It is about time we brought the Treason Act up to date and made it apply to those seeking to destroy or undermine the British state. That means extreme jihadis. It also means those in future actively working undemocratically against UK through extreme EU loyalty.”

His tweet included a copy of Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph front page, which reported on calls for treason laws to be updated and used to prosecute jihadis who have fought in Syria. A report published on Tuesday by the right-leaning Policy Exchange thinktank had said the law should allow enemies of the state to be jailed for life.”

Read the full article in theguardian.co.uk here