Speaking on BBC Newsnight, the Conservative Peer gave a stark warning about officials doing “everything they can” to frustrate the Brexit process.

He said: “The officials will do their best to frustrate this process because, as I say, it goes against the grain so fundamentally.

“But they equally realise their constitutional duty to accept the leadership of the politicians, of the Government, of the elected Government - that is our constitutional position.

“And if they get the real lead, then they will follow it.”

The Tory Peer also said the bureaucratic nature of the Civil Service “fits in well” with the mindset of the “undemocratic EU”.

Lord Lawson added: “And indeed of course particularly with the European Union, which is by its nature something of a bureaucratic monstrosity with a contempt for democracy, fits in very well with the bureaucratic mindset throughout the world, including in this country."

His remarks are in relation to a piece on Newsnight about civil servant Olly Robbins who is Theresa May’s advisor on the European Union.

Mr Robbins is the founding permanent secretary of the new department for exiting the EU.

He has since quit his role as permanent secretary to concentrate on his "sherpa" role with Theresa May.

Some Leavers think Mr Robbins regards Brexit as a crisis to be managed rather than an opportunity to be seized.

Lord Lawson added: “Brexit is a most radical change of direction for this country. And the idea that any bureaucrat could be in favour of radical change is nonsense.

“Bureaucrats by their very nature loathe radical change of any kind.”

The former Chancellor was one of Margaret Thatcher’s strongest supporters until they fell out in 1989.

He compares Thatcher’s radical economic reforms as a parallel to Brexit and said his Government showed civil servants will implement radical change only if they are given strong political direction.

He continued: “I was, as you know, a member of the Thatcher Government. We came in and introduced a radical change in the economic policy.

“And all the officials were aghast. They thought it would be a disaster. But we had at that time a strong cabinet led by an outstanding Prime Minister and they accepted the political leadership as is their constitutional duty.

“So we made this radical change and it worked out very well. It is really the job of the Government, the cabinet and above all the Prime Minister to force this through.

“You can’t expect bureaucrats who by their nature abhor radical change of any kind, and this is extremely radical, to be supportive of it. They won’t be.”

Lord Lawson stressed he was speaking about the Civil Service in general because he does not know Mr Robbins, but his comments reflect the private views of some Cabinet Ministers.

Speaking anonymously, a minister told Newsnight: "The civil service is very defensive on Brexit. They do see it as a problem."

But Tom Fletcher who later served alongside Olly Robbins as a senior official in Downing Street defended his old friend.

He said Mr Robbins is an impartial Civil Servant committed to implementing the wishes of his political bosses.

Speaking to Newsnight, Mr Fletcher said: “Olly Robbins believes in public service. My impression is he believes he is there to work for the minister, for the prime minister.

"That comes through all of his interactions with them. It is not like an episode of Yes, Prime Minister."