Guy Verhofstadt has launched a broadside against Boris Johnson, accusing him of engaging in a “combination of false promises, pseudo-patriotism, and foreigner bashing”.

The European Parliament’s Brexit chief said the frontrunner to be Britain’s next prime minister was “a man who continues to dissemble, exaggerate, and disinform the public about Brexit”.

“To those of us watching from the outside, the debate between the candidates confirms that they have learned nothing whatsoever from the past two years of negotiations with the EU,” Mr Verhofstadt wrote in a piece for the Project Syndicate website.

“Sadly, this comes as no surprise, given that the lead candidate is Boris Johnson, the Leave campaign’s most prominent architect and a man who continues to dissemble, exaggerate, and disinform the public about Brexit.”

The former Belgian prime minister, who has his eye on becoming president of the European Parliament, said Mr Johnson had “narrowly duped” people into voting to leave the EU and said he “continues to spread untruths”, including the idea that the Brexit deal can be renegotiated.

“To Johnson’s followers, however, he is more prophet than politician: only he can deliver a mythical “true Brexit” that will deliver the prosperity promised during the referendum campaign,” he continued.

“As is often the case with populists, reality does not square with Johnson’s ensorceling combination of false promises, pseudo-patriotism, and foreigner bashing. He and his fellow Brexiteers speak of a 'Global Britain' that will trade freely with the rest of the world, even as they drag their country down a path strewn with uprooted trade ties and substantial new barriers to commerce.”

Mr Verhofstadt highlighted the fact that the EU has continued to sign trade deals with other countries since the UK voted to leave, including Japan, South Korea, and Canada.

The frank criticism of Mr Johnson in the international press is a departure from Brussels’ treatment of Theresa May, who most EU officials and politicians were reluctant to criticise publicly.

Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Show all 15 1 /15 Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Pork There will be tariffs on pork in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Cheese There will be tariffs in place on some cheeses including €22.10/100kg of cheddar, €19.10/100kg of processed cheese and €18.60/100kg on some blue cheeses Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Milk There will be no tariffs in place on milk Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Car Parts There will be no tariffs on car parts imported from Europe PA Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Cars However finished cars will face tariffs of 10.6% Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Alcoholic drinks There will be no tariffs on alcoholic drinks - except on some rums due to ingredients used in their distilling process Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Beef There will be tariffs on beef in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Fish There will be no tariffs on many types of fish including cod, haddock, salmon and sea bass Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Fruit and vegetables There will be no tariffs on almost all fruit and vegetables Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Chocolate There will be no tariffs on chocolate or other cocoa products Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Poultry There will be tariffs on poultry in order to protect British farmers Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Ceramics There will be some tariffs in place on ceramis Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Steel There will be no tariffs on steel Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Coal There will be no tariffs on coal Getty Tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit Lamb/Mutton There will be tariffs on the meat of sheep in order to protect British farmers Getty

Mr Johnson has said he would withhold the £39 billion divorce bill from the EU if it refuses to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement struck by his predecessor. The EU has repeatedly stated that it will not offer a new withdrawal agreement, most recently on Wednesday when a spokesperson said there would be no more talks "full stop".