A secret letter from Boris Johnson and Michael Gove giving Theresa May apparent instructions on how to run Brexit has emerged.

Transition arrangements for Britain’s exit from the European Union must end on 30 June 2021, the cabinet ministers demanded, according to the Mail on Sunday.

They also urged the prime minister to ensure members of her top team fall behind their Brexit plans by “clarifying their minds” and called for them to “internalise the logic”, the newspaper said.



The leaked letter appears to make a thinly veiled attack on the chancellor, Philip Hammond, who backed remain and wants a softer Brexit, for lacking the “sufficient energy” in preparing to the UK’s future outside the bloc.

A senior government source told the newspaper the foreign secretary and environment secretary had conducted a “soft coup” and described May as “their Downing Street hostage”.

The letter, titled EU Exit – Next Steps, is marked “For your and Gavin’s eyes only”, a reference to the PM’s chief of staff Gavin Barwell.



It states: “Your approach is governed by sensible pragmatism. That does not in any way dilute our ambition to be a fully independent self-governing country by the time of the next election. If we are to counter those who wish to frustrate that end, there are ways of underlining your resolve.

“We are profoundly worried that in some parts of government the current preparations are not proceeding with anything like sufficient energy.

“We have heard it argued by some that we cannot start preparations on the basis of no deal because that would undermine our obligation of ‘sincere cooperation’ with the EU. If taken seriously, that would leave us over a barrel in 2021.

“We all want you to push your agenda forward with confidence and have your government articulate the following.”

No 10 said it did not comment on leaks and neither Johnson nor Gove commented.

Meanwhile, 40 Conservative MPs have agreed to sign a letter of no-confidence in the prime minister, the Sunday Times has reported.

That is eight short of the number needed to trigger a party leadership contest, the mechanism through which May could be forced from office and replaced by another Conservative.