A “pretty angry pro-European” British Conservative MEP has secured an Irish passport out of disgust at Brexit.

Charles Tannock, who represents London, was able to obtain his new passport because his grandmother was born in Dublin.

He said his interest in his Irish heritage had been “awakened by Brexit because, to be honest, I am quite ashamed to be British in many ways”.

Mr Tannock, who made clear he had no intention of standing down as an MEP, added that he was a “passionate Remainer, who wanted reassurance he would stay an EU citizen”.

The 59-year-old politician is among thousands of people, who have been applying for Irish passports since the Brexit vote in June 2016.