Tory Remainers joined Boris Johnson in launching a searing attack on Theresa May's Brexit strategy today.

The Prime Minister is facing a pincer movement from both wings of her party after the former foreign secretary accused her of flying the 'white flag' in negotiations with the EU.

Europhile former minister Justine Greening piled in to jibe that the Chequers plan was 'more unpopular than the poll tax'.

However, Downing Street hit back that critics of the premier's blueprint - which would see the UK follow EU rules on goods and collect some taxes for the bloc in order to avoid friction at the borders - had 'no new ideas'.

Mr Johnson also came under fire from some angry senior figures who branded him a 'great charlatan'.

In his latest incendiary intervention, Mr Johnson complained that the UK was 'lying flat on the canvas' in negotiations with Brussels, insisting Mrs May had 'not even tried' to play hardball.

Boris Johnson (pictured left) has launched a scathing attack on Theresa May's (pictured right) Brexit strategy, saying the PM had 'gone into battle with the white flag fluttering'

Mr Johnson was branded a 'great charlatan' by Conservative Remainer Sarah Wollaston

Mr Johnson, who resigned over the Chequers compromise along with former Brexit secretary David Davis, wrote in his Telegraph column that the negotiations were a 'fix' which could only lead to victory for Brussels.

The Tory heavyweight compared withdrawal negotiations between Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and the EU's Michel Barnier to a rigged wrestling match.

He said: 'Out of their corners come Dominic Raab and Michel Barnier, shrugging their shoulders and beating their chests - and I just hope you aren't one of those trusting souls who still thinks it could really go either way.

'The fix is in. The whole thing is about as pre-ordained as a bout between Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy; and in this case, I am afraid, the inevitable outcome is a victory for the EU, with the UK lying flat on the canvas and 12 stars circling symbolically over our semi-conscious head.'

Mr Johnson accused 'some members' of the Government of deliberately using the Irish border situation to 'stop a proper Brexit' and effectively keep Britain in the EU.

He said that the real 'scandal' was 'not that we have failed, but that we have not even tried' on Brexit.

David Davis (pictured on GMB today) reiterated his call for Chequers to be scrapped altogether, arguing that the EU must give ground as the 'biggest loser' from no-deal Brexit would be Ireland

The blistering intervention comes as Mrs May faces growing opposition on Tory benches to the Chequers Cabinet compromise on the Brexit strategy which triggered the resignation from the Government of Mr Johnson.

What is in Theresa May's Brexit blueprint? These are some of the key features of the Chequers plan being pushed by the UK government: A new free trade area in goods, based on a 'common rulebook' of EU regulations necessary. This will require the UK to commit by treaty to match EU rules

'Mobility' rules which will end automatic freedom of movement, but still allow UK and EU citizens to travel without visas for tourism and temporary work. It will also enable businesses to move staff between countries.

Continued UK participation in and funding of European agencies covering areas like chemicals, aviation safety and medicines

A 'facilitated customs arrangement', removing the need for customs checks at UK-EU ports. It would allow differing UK and EU tariffs on goods from elsewhere in the world to be paid at the border, removing the need for rebates in the vast majority of cases. This is designed to avoid the need for a hard Irish border. But in theory it still allows Britain to sign trade deals.

Keeping services - such as banking or legal support - outside of the common rule book, meaning the UK is completely free to set its own regulations. It accepts it will mean less trade in services between the UK and EU.

Continued co-operation on energy and transport, a 'common rulebook' on state aid and commitments to maintain high standards of environmental and workplace protections.

A security deal allowing continued UK participation in Europol and Eurojust, 'co-ordination' of UK and EU policies on foreign affairs, defence and development.

Continued use of the EHIC health insurance card. Advertisement

With Parliament returning from recess tomorrow, the PM is facing huge pressure to change course from Tory hardliners - amid claims that election strategist Sir Lynton Crosby is involved in a 'chuck Chequers' campaign.

But the PM's spokesman shot back: 'Boris Johnson resigned over Chequers. There are no new ideas in this article to respond to.

'What we need is serious leadership with a serious plan - that is exactly what this country has with this prime minister and this Brexit plan.'

Mr Barnier has stated he 'strongly opposes' the UK plan because 'cherry-picking' would mean the end of the European project.

But Mr Johnson said Britain faced getting 'two thirds of diddly squat' for its divorce bill.

He said: 'They may puff about 'cherry-picking' the single market. There may be some confected groaning and twanging of leotards when it comes to the discussion on free movement.

'But the reality is that in this negotiation the EU has so far taken every important trick.

'The UK has agreed to hand over £40 billion of taxpayers' money for two thirds of diddly squat.

'We will remain in the EU taxi; but this time locked in the boot, with absolutely no say on the destination. We won't have taken back control - we will have lost control.'

The comments followed claims from former Brexit secretary David Davis that Mrs May had positioned herself for 'open sesame' on further Brexit climbdowns after saying she would not be pushed into compromises 'that are not in our national interest'.

Mr Davis warned that the Chequers blueprint was 'actually almost worse than being in' the EU.

But he insisted today that Mrs May should not be forced to resign for putting forward 'wrong' proposals - and took an apparent swipe at Mr Johnson by criticising 'personality' politics.

Asked if Mrs May should resign, he said: 'No, we don't need any more turbulence right now. What matters in all of this is not the personality politics, it's the outcome at the end.'

Joining the attack on Mrs May, Justine Greening (file image) - who has urged a second referendum on Brexit - said 'no one wants' the Chequers plan

Home Secretary Sajid Javid also joined in the criticism.

He told a press conference in London: 'The thing that is helpful is for us all to support the Prime Minister with her plan and make sure it is getting affair hearing with the EU.

'And those who think there is a different way then they need to properly set out what alternatives there might be.

'But right now this is a plan that has been put forward by the UK Government and it is still being considered by all the bits that make up the EU and let's see what they say.

'But that is the plan and that is the one that everyone should be uniting behind.'

Senior Tory backbencher Sarah Wollaston laid into Mr Johnson more bluntly on Twitter.

'No surprise to see the great charlatan blaming others for a mess of his own creation.

Damian Green, a close ally of Mrs May and her former deputy, complained that Mr Johnson was not being 'serious'.

'I don't think using words like surrender and so on is cogniscant of the seriousness of the situation.

'These are hugely important months for the future of the country and its prosperity.'

The Tory heavyweight compared withdrawal negotiations between Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured at Parliament today) and the EU's Michel Barnier to a rigged wrestling match

He insisted Mrs May's position was 'difficult but not impossible' .

'We're walking a narrow path with people chucking rocks at us from both sides,' he said.

Mr Green said he believed the Chequers plan would end up winning support.

'Everyone is going to have to face the fact that the British Government has got a plan... no-one else in the EU has suggested a plan that is in any way workable,' he said.

One Tory Remainer told The Times they were being privately assured that the Chequers plan would be softened further.

'They are telling me, 'We know this is difficult. We know we may have to move further.'

Joining the attack on Mrs May, Ms Greening - who has urged a second referendum on Brexit - said 'no one wants' her plan.

'The Chequers deal is now more unpopular with the British people than the poll tax was,' she told BBC Radio 4's World at One.

'The PM cannot waste the next two months shuttling around Europe pretending nothing has changed, trying to land a deal no-one wants.'

Fellow Europhile Nick Boles said Mrs May's proposals were almost certain to end in 'humiliation'.

'This is the first time I have broken with my Prime Minister but she is wrong on this,' he said.

'She has not succeeded, let's be clear, but we have a prime minister and I want her to deliver a better Brexit - the kind of Brexit I have set out in my plan.'

Home Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured in London today) also joined in the criticism of Mr Johnson, insisting all Government MPs should rally behind the Prime Minister

Mr Boles said: 'We can't get to Nirvana in one step. I'm suggesting we reject the current withdrawal plan in its entirety.'

He added his proposal for parking Britain in the European Economic Area while a future trade arrangement was finalised represented 'a much superior option'.

'What I want is a plan that's workable,' he added, not a 'humiliation' by the EU.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the influential European Research Group of Tory MPs, said the Chequers plan was 'certainly not' the best way forward.

Mr Rees-Mogg, in Brussels for the Brexit Select Committee's meeting with Michel Barnier, told Sky News there were 'hundreds of suggestions' for the basis of a deal with the EU and 'it's a question of choosing which of the many is the best'.

'It is certainly not Chequers,' he said.

In more evidence of Cabinet tensions yesterday, International Development Secretary Liam Fox took a swipe at the Treasury over gloomy predictions on the consequences of a no-deal scenario.

Dr Fox told the BBC: 'Can you think back in all your time in politics where the Treasury have made predictions that were correct 15 years out, I can't, they didn't predict the financial crisis that happened, no-one could.

'So this idea that we can predict what our borrowing would be 15 years in advance is just a bit hard to swallow.

'To say what a GDP figure would be 15 years ahead is not a predictive power that I've known the Treasury to have in my time in politics ... I don't believe it is possible to have a 15-year time horizon on predictions on GDP.'

Where do the main players and the key institutions stand on Theresa May's Brexit plan? OPPOSED Former Cabinet ministers Boris Johnson and David Davis, who both quit over the details of the plan. Tory Brexiteers, led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, who insist it will leave Britain worse off than remaining a member. Tory Remainers, such as Justine Greening, who complain it means Britain leaves the single market and customs union, threatening jobs and trade. Labour, who say it fails their six tests to ensure the Brexit deal has the 'exact same benefits' of staying in the single market. The EU Commission, whose negotiator Michel Barnier has said the plan undermines the single market and would destroy the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron, who said while he wants a strong relationship with Brexit Britain, it cannot come at the cost of the EU unravelling. IN FAVOUR Prime Minister Theresa May, who says the Chequers plan delivers on the Brexit vote while offering a good deal for both Britain and the EU. Former Cabinet ministers Amber Rudd and Damian Green, who are Theresa May loyalists and desperate to prop her up against rampant Brexiteers. Tories in the Brexit Delivery Group of backbench MPs, which is determined to get to exit day without tearing the Conservative Party apart. Prime Minister Theresa May has found support for her Brexit plan hard to come by Advertisement

Tory rebels vow to trash May's Brexit plan: Ex-ministers Iain Duncan Smith and Priti Patel among 20 MPs taking stand against Chequers

Conservative rebels including Iain Duncan Smith and Priti Patel have joined a backbench campaign to wreck Theresa May's Brexit plans, it has emerged.

The Stand Up 4 Brexit group has apparently recruited around 20 Tory MPs including the ex-Cabinet ministers in an effort to sink the PM's Chequers compromise.

Mrs May's limited control of the House of Commons means even a small rebellion from her own backbenchers could prompt a government defeat.

Stand Up 4 Brexit's aims include the end of free movement and opposing plans to keep Britain aligned with EU standards on goods, The Times reported.

Conservative rebels including Iain Duncan Smith (left) and Priti Patel (right) have joined a backbench campaign to wreck Theresa May's Brexit plans, it has emerged

David Davis, who resigned as Brexit secretary over the Chequers plan, also vowed to vote against Mrs May's proposals.

The PM's plans were 'actually almost worse than being in', he said.

However Mr Davis said he did not believe a change of party leader was needed, following claims that election strategist Lynton Crosby was planning to install Boris Johnson in Downing Street instead.

He said: 'It is absolutely possible to dump Chequers without changing leader and that's the best way to do it.

'Anyone who conflates getting rid of Chequers with changing the leadership is confusing their aims'.