Boris Johnson has issued a blistering attack on British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit strategy just days before the Conservative Party conference.
The former foreign secretary, who sensationally quit the British cabinet in July, described the Mrs May's Chequers plan as "a moral and intellectual humiliation for this country" that will "cheat the electorate" if implemented.
Mr Johnson, in a Telegraph op-ed, accused the government and civil service of a "pretty invertebrate performance" in negotiations and said there had been "a collapse of will by the British establishment to deliver on the mandate of the people".
In a 4,500-word column, entitled "A better plan for Brexit", Mr Johnson also set out an alternative vision which he says would make Britain "rich, strong and free".
As a priority, the former London mayor urged the government to ditch Chequers and negotiate a Canada-style free deal which would "fulfill the instruction of the people".
He said: "Overall, the Chequers proposals represent the intellectual error of believing that we can be half-in, half-out: that it is somehow safer and easier for large parts of our national life to remain governed by the EU even though we are no longer in the EU.
"They are in that sense a democratic disaster. There is nothing safe or 'pragmatic' in being bound by rules over which we have no say, interpreted by a federalist court.
"The Chequers proposals are the worst of both worlds. They are a moral and intellectual humiliation for this country. It is almost incredible that after two years this should be the opening bid of the British government."
Mr Johnson also argues for a new withdrawal agreement which states that the Irish border question will be settled as part of the deal on the future economic arrangements.
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said a deal on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union must ensure that trade across the border on the island of Ireland is not disrupted.
Mr Corbyn was speaking after meeting EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels.
He stressed that he was not negotiating with Mr Barnier and said the EU's point man offered no opinion during their meeting on the merits of Labour's Brexit proposals as opposed to those of Prime Minister Theresa May.
Asked what his solutions are for Brexit, Mr Corbyn said: "We made it clear that we do not want a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland."
Joined by Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, for the meeting, Mr Corbyn said it was "essentially about the protection of jobs and trade arrangements in the future and of course surrounding the border in Ireland and the rights of European Union nationals who live in the UK and are very welcome in the UK.
"We are utterly determined to protect their position and the rights of families."
Tweeting after the meeting, Mr Barnier said he had listened to Mr Corbyn's views and wanted to ensure Britain's orderly withdrawal from the bloc
He further argues that the implementation period should be used to negotiate and bring into force a "SuperCanada" type free trade agreement and says MPs should not vote to hand over £40 billion to the EU without any such agreement.
He adds: "This is the time to get it right. This is the approach that allows this country really to exploit the opportunities of Brexit, to diverge and legislate effectively for the new technologies and businesses in which the UK has such a lead.
"This is an opportunity for the UK to become more dynamic and more successful, and we should not be shy of saying that - and we should recognise that it is exactly this potential our EU partners seek to constrain."
Mr Johnson concludes by issuing a rallying cry to the Tory base, saying "this is the moment to change the course of the negotiations and do justice to the ambitions and potential of Brexit", and warning "that future generations will not lightly forgive us if we fail".
The intervention comes two days before the start of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham where Brexit is expected to feature heavily.
Mr Johnson's comments also come after the current Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt called for calm over the current Brexit impasse - claiming there was always going to come a point in negotiations "where everyone was looking into the abyss".
Mr Hunt also backed Mrs May's resolve and warned the EU and doubters in the UK that "underestimating Theresa May is one of the biggest mistakes that you could make right now".
Mrs May's Chequers plan was publicly rejected by EU leaders in Salzburg last week and both Labour and Tory Eurosceptics said they would vote against any such proposal.
Meeting w/@jeremycorbyn and his team today. Continuing to listen to all views on #Brexit and to explain EU positions, which aim for the UK’s orderly withdrawal and to build an ambitious future partnership together.
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) September 27, 2018
Meanwhile Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said a deal on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union must ensure that trade across the border on the island of Ireland is not disrupted.
Mr Corbyn was speaking after meeting EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels.
He stressed that he was not negotiating with Mr Barnier and said the EU's point man offered no opinion during their meeting on the merits of Labour's Brexit proposals as opposed to those of Prime Minister Theresa May.
Asked what his solutions are for Brexit, Mr Corbyn said: "We made it clear that we do not want a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland."
Joined by Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, for the meeting, Mr Corbyn said it was "essentially about the protection of jobs and trade arrangements in the future and of course surrounding the border in Ireland and the rights of European Union nationals who live in the UK and are very welcome in the UK.
"We are utterly determined to protect their position and the rights of families."
Tweeting after the meeting, Mr Barnier said he had listened to Mr Corbyn's views and wanted to ensure Britain's orderly withdrawal from the bloc
