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Sir Lynton Crosby, who is dubbed "the Wizard of Oz" and was the mastermind behind Mr Johnson’s two London mayoral election victories, is planning to co-ordinate a nationwide plan to destroy the Chequers deal.



He has ordered senior staff at his strategy firm, CTF Partners, to work with hardline Brexit groups like the European Research Group (ERG), led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Change Britain to whip up strong opposition to Chequers.



A senior Tory told the Sunday Times: “Lynton’s firm is working with the ERG to run this campaign to bring down Chequers.



“It looks like Lynton is hitting back after falling out over the election campaign and is trying to boot out the Prime Minister. They want to get Boris in.”

One of those involved said destroying Chequers would force Mrs May to resign, saying: “If we stop Chequers there is no way she’ll survive.”



Sir Lynton is abroad but officials at party HQ said he has contacted Tory donors encouraging them to fund his campaign.



A spokesman for CTF Partners confirmed the existence of the anti-Chequers campaign and the company’s involvement but defended their actions by saying even Theresa May’s former aide Nick Timothy has said she should ditch Chequers.



The spokesman said: “CTF’s senior staff are often consulted because of their campaign expertise and knowledge. That’s not unusual. “The better the deal the Prime Minister secures for the UK in Brexit negotiations, the better the prospects for the Conservative Party at the next general election. “As far as Sir Lynton is concerned, he has been overseas for the last five weeks.”

A former aide is planning to oust Theresa May and replace her with Boris Johnson

David Canzini, one of Sir Linton’s staff, has been working to "put rocket boosters" under Change Britain, a pro-Brexit group with a strong online presence, and turn it into a guerrilla campaign to attack Chequers.



He is working closesly with former Brexit minister Steve Baker and Stewart Jackson, a former David Davis aide.



Mr Canzini has tweeted messages attacking the Chequers deal and retweeting influential Brexiteers like Baker, Jackson, Nigel Farage and Priti Patel.



Boris Johnson has denied any involvement with the CTF campaign. A source close to the Uxrbidge MP said: “While Boris has always backed the aims of Change Britain, he has no role in the organisation.”

Sir Lynton Crosby, Theresa May's former aide, is said to be motivated by 'revenge'

Sir Lynton's campaign is trying to destroy the Brexit deal agreed at Chequers

The Prime Minister’s controvial Chequers Brexit plan was reached in July after months of bitter dispute.



However, the plan has outraged key Brexiteers who argue it will deliver a soft Brexit and will see Britain maintaining close ties with Brussels permanently.



Notable critics include Mr Johnson, who said the cabinet were “polishing a turd” when they designed Chequers.



Another was David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, who resigned over the deal.



MPs are said to be planning to publish an alternative plan to undermine Chequers before the Tory Party conference with the backing of Mr Johnson and Mr Davis. Next week she will come under more pressure from Nick Boles, a close ally of environment secretary Michael Gove, who will call on the prime minister to ditch Chequers and push for Britain to have a Norway-style relationship with the EU.

Theresa May tries to win support today by saying there will be no second referendum