The Prime Minister found time to praise Dover, even during an angry and bitter Commons debate.

Boris Johnson said he was “very, very impressed” with “the level of preparation” for Brexit in the area.

He told MPs to “educate themselves” by visiting Dover.

This was during an otherwise ill-tempered exchange with opposing MPs last night as the Brexit turmoil continues.

Mr Elphicke had asked him whether opposition parties had made any representations about holding a general election.

The Dover and Deal MP said: “I voted Remain in the referendum, but my constituency and my country decided otherwise.

“So I thought it was my duty as a Member of this House to accept those instructions and that mandate and execute it faithfully.

“And my constituents say: after three years, this Parliament has achieved nothing. It is a rump Parliament

“So can I ask the Prime Minister what representations has he had from the minor parties in relation to a confidence vote or an election vote, as well as the Labour Party to bring forward a general election, so the people can have their say and settle this question for good?”

Mr Johnson replied: “ I am yet to hear either from the main opposition or indeed any other opposition party that they are willing to take up our democratic challenge.

“But I want to thank him and to congratulate him for what he has done for Dover, where I have been and been very, very impressed with the level of preparation.

“And Honourable Members opposite who are anxious might educate themselves by going to see what has been done.

" I congratulate my Honourable Friend for the leadership he has shown."

This was Mr Johnson's first appearance in the House of Commons since the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to be recalled.

The Conservative PM had to cut short his United Nations trip to New York because of this.

Opposing MPs such as from Labour and the SNP, had saId they would not back a general election until a no-deal Brexit was off the table.

Mr Johnson had visited Dover on July 11, two weeks before he became Prime Minister.

There he met Mr Elphicke and the Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister, who told him about the port's preparations for Brexit.

He also learned about major progress in the town such as the Dover Western Docks Revival development.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal

Read more: All the latest news from Dover