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Sir Vince Cable has branded Boris Johnson a "Poundland Donald Trump" after he set out his vision for a “bold, thriving Brexit”.

The Liberal Democrat leader issued a warning over the foreign secretary in the wake of his 4,000-word Brexit article in the Telegraph, which has been seen as a challenge to Theresa May’s leadership.

Sir Vince said: "Boris Johnson is on manoeuvres, which means everyone else should take cover.

"He clearly thinks that Theresa May is on the verge of a U-turn which would lead to a transitional deal that would keep us in the single market.

"Boris Johnson sees this as his chance to bag the top job, so is pushing for a far more extreme Brexit.

"This might play well with hard right Conservative MPs but would be a disaster for the UK economy.

"Theresa May must slap down Boris Johnson in the strongest terms or she will lose the last vestige of her authority to negotiate Brexit.

"The Cabinet is more split than an oak tree struck by lightning. Britain desperately needs political grown-ups who will put the country first, not a Poundland Donald Trump like Boris Johnson."

In the article, Mr Johnson revived the widely-criticised claim quitting the EU could boost NHS coffers by £350 million a week. He also warned against paying for access to European markets in the future.

He insisted Brexit would allow the UK to "be the greatest country on earth" and "our destiny will be in our own hands".

"This country will succeed in our new national enterprise, and will succeed mightily," he wrote.

But the detailed assessment of life after March 2019 was released just six days before Mrs May sets out her Brexit blueprint in a speech in Florence, fuelling speculation about Mr Johnson's leadership ambitions.

In a tweet linked to his article, Mr Johnson insisted, however, he was "looking forward to PM's Florence speech".

"All behind Theresa for a glorious Brexit," he added.

Labour's Chuka Umunna, a leading supporter of Open Britain, which is campaigning for continued single market membership, said: "The £350 million a week promise was a fib, and there is absolutely no chance of it being delivered. Boris should be apologising for his disgraceful conduct in the referendum, not continually making the same impossible promises."

Labour said the article exposed the divisions in Mrs May's top team.

A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn said: "Boris Johnson has laid bare the conflicts at the heart of Theresa May's Government over Brexit and cut the ground from beneath the Prime Minister's authority."