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Boris Johnson has stuck the knife into Theresa May over Brexit by issuing a rambling 4,500-word thinly-disguised leadership bid.

The ex-Foreign Secretary blasted the "appalling" and "disgraceful" "collective failure of government" - which he helped lead until July - in a rallying cry to Tory activists before the party conference.

And he demanded Mrs May "chuck Chequers", her current plan for Brexit, branding it "ridiculous", "magical thinking", a "democratic disaster" and a "moral and intellectual humiliation" that will "cheat the electorate".

Instead he proposes she create a 'SuperCanada' pact based on the EU's trade deal with Canada - which took seven years to agree - but better.

And he backs the right-wing Institute of Economic Affairs' "excellent" 'Plan A+' for Brexit, which unions have called a "bonfire of workers' rights".

Anti-Brexit group Best For Britain branded Mr Johnson's screed in the Daily Telegraph "verbal diarrhoea". Labour shadow minister Jon Trickett added: "It's clearer than ever that the Tories have run out of ideas."

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: AFP)

The so-called Chequers plan, agreed at Theresa May's country retreat of the same name, will see the UK share a "common rulebook" on customs for some goods from the EU.

It would also see the UK collecting tariffs on behalf of other EU states.

Angry Mr Johnson, who agreed to the plan but then resigned days later, claimed this would leave Britain "half-in, half-out" of the EU and "betray centuries of progress".

"That is a pretty invertebrate performance," he wrote.

"There has been a collective failure of government, and a collapse of will by the British establishment, to deliver on the mandate of the people."

He added: "The single greatest failing has been the Government’s appalling and inexplicable delay in setting out a vision for what Brexit is.

(Image: REUTERS)

"As Britain has run out of time, the initiative has been transferred to our counterparts on the other side of the table, and – disgracefully – no proper preparations have been made for leaving on WTO terms."

The lengthy piece comes almost exactly a year after Mr Johnson wrote a similar essay setting out a rival Brexit vision in a bid to bounce Theresa May into his position.

Although it is almost entirely about Brexit it will be seen widely as a leadership pitch as speculation rises about Mrs May's position.

Thousands of activists will descend on Birmingham tomorrow and Sunday for the party's annual conference. It is those same activists who, when the time comes, will decide the next leader of the Conservative Party.

In his piece Boris Johnson says the British people "voted for freedom" in 2016, adding: "It must be admitted, alas, that at this rate their hopes will not be fulfilled."

Theresa May has previously slammed Brexiteers for having no alternative plan for Brexit - and there are just weeks left until she and EU leaders need to agree a rough deal in Brussels in mid-October.

What is Boris Johnson's 'alternative plan' for Brexit?

What does Mr Johnson say is wrong with Chequers?

The plan agreed by Cabinet - including Mr Johnson before his resignation as foreign secretary - will result in "enforced vassalage" of Britain to the EU, he said.

UK firms will be exposed to EU regulations, which could be designed to disadvantage them. Free trade deals will be made "doubly difficult" due to Britain not having control over regulations for good and agri-foods, he said.

The EU will also be able to enforce tariffs at Britain's borders, while Parliament would have to give up control of an "entire corpus" of laws to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

What is he suggesting?

Mr Johnson has proposed a model for a free trade deal he calls "SuperCanada", with all the benefits of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Under a new withdrawal agreement the UK and EU will have until 2020 to sign off the deal.

What is Canada's arrangement with the EU?

CETA is the most extensive signed by the EU with an external country to date.

It allows Canada to access the European market on improved terms while not being a member, so it does not have to pay into the EU budget, follow ECJ laws or adopt freedom of movement.

Under CETA, nearly all tariffs are being eliminated on imports and exports between the countries, while there are increased opportunities for companies to do business and workers to move between the territories.

This is supported by closer cooperation on regulation and intellectual property. It has not done away with border controls.

What is the "super" bit?

Mr Johnson says cooperation between the UK and EU would be closer on areas such as defence, security and aviation. There would also be "extensive provisions on services", which make up the majority of the UK economy. This would be based on, but go further than, the CETA model.

Why is this not already the plan?

Critics including the Prime Minister say a CETA-style deal would still result in customs checks between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which could jeopardise the Good Friday Agreement. The EU has said that without proper checks an open border would harm the integrity of the single market.

How does SuperCanada get around that?

Mr Johnson says UK and EU regulatory bodies would ensure conformity of standards "in the spirit of trust and common sense" because "we all want high standards".

These would use Mutual Recognition Agreements to marry up UK and EU regulations. It will get around the issue of the hard border in Ireland by using technology.