Protesters wore European Union flags as councillors called on MPs to stand down.

Almost 50 campaigners gathered outside St Albans District Council's meeting last week, where Liberal Democrats Cllr Chris White and Cllr Gerard McHale put forward a motion calling on St Albans MP Anne Main and Hitchin and Harpenden MP Peter Lilley to resign.

Remain voters in St Albans felt misrepresented at a national level by Mrs Main and Mr Lilley, who both campaigned for Leave. In the city, 63 per cent voted to stay in the EU.

Further upset was caused after Mrs Main denied her constituents a public surgery following the referendum result, saying it would not be “beneficial” now the decision has been made.

Cllr White said: “It is important for elected representatives to be in tune with their electors on the big issues. The European Union is a giant issue.”

Labour councillor Malachy Pakenham used Hitler as an example. He said: “Churchill warned about referendums. Hitler used referendums very effectively in the 1930s, I’ve never been in favour of them.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Mary Maynard said she was “shocked” by the decision of the country, but added: “We don’t threaten people and say that they are going to lose their jobs because they don’t agree with us. Is that democracy or is it something else entirely?”

Conservative Salih Gaygusuz also dismissed the motion, declaring that asking the two MPs to resign was not democracy but “pure dictatorship”.

Several speakers mentioned the fact that Mrs Main lived 25 miles away, and called her ‘invisible’ since the decision to leave the EU was made.

Clapping erupted from the protesters, who were allowed into the chambers after the live stream projection in another room had broken. Mayor Frances Leonard hushed the crowd and told them to refrain from making any further noise.

Labour councillor Katherine Gardener said: “Since the June 23 vote, Anne Main has failed to listen to public opinion in this district. To fail to listen to listen to the district that you represent at a national level, shows a complete lack of respect on the opinion of the majority of people in this district.”

The motion was rejected.

Jo Farmer, Watford Road, a member of the St Albans and Harpenden Facebook group, said: “It’s disappointing but it was expected, it’s a Conservative council. We aren’t going away.

“The next steps are to work with other groups that have sprung up since the referendum. We want to do a public debate, we have invited Mrs Main and Mr Lilley to join us. All we are hearing is ‘Brexit means Brexit’, but no one is talking to us.”

Mrs Main, who was not at the meeting, said: “I believe that when the elected councillors choose to bring Hitler into their debate they somewhat lost the argument.”

“The nonsensical argument that in a referendum MPs should endeavour to try and second guess the outcome of a vote of their particular electorate and then try to match that vote for political expediency would have in effect meant a very significant increase in the MPs campaigning to leave.

“I hope that we can all accept and move on from the result. As our new Prime Minister has said, the country has voted for Brexit and we will make it work for the British people.”

A petition on 38 degrees has been signed by almost 2,500 people who feel that their MPs do not represent the majority of the district. There is also a Facebook group called the St Albans and Harpenden Action Group with just over 400 members.

Mr Lilley had not responded to a request for a comment at the time of going to press.