BORIS JOHNSON’S speech at the Tory Party conference today proves that the Prime Minister has “no intention nor ability to negotiate a deal” with the European Union, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said.

Mr Johnson claimed that a no-deal Brexit is “no doubt” the only alternative to his “reasonable proposals” to break the deadlock over the Irish border backstop.

He told attendees — ahead of a phone call later in the day with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker — that he hoped Brussels would respond in kind to his “compromise” offer.

Mr McDonnell said Mr Johnson’s proposals for an alternative to the backstop are “a cynical attempt to force through a no-deal Brexit.”

On the last day of the conference in Manchester, Mr Johnson warned that Britain was ready to leave without a deal on October 31 if the EU refuses to work on reaching an agreement.

Brexit is an opportunity to “reboot our politics, to relaunch ourselves into the world,” he said.

He insisted his plan to replace the Irish backstop would “in no circumstances” result in checks or a hard border in Ireland.

The plan involves a “two borders for four years” measure that will leave Northern Ireland in alignment with EU regulations until 2025.

It accepts the need for both a regulatory border between Britain and Northern Ireland in the Irish Sea for four years and customs checks between the north and the Irish Republic.

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said on Tuesday night that Mr Johnson’s suggestions were “concerning, to say the least.”

Mr McDonnell said the proposals are “neither credible nor workable.”

He said: “Any responsible prime minister would have spent the past three months trying to build a consensus in Parliament and across the EU in order to break the deadlock.

“However, Boris Johnson has neither the intention nor ability to negotiate a deal or protect jobs and communities across the United Kingdom.

“This crisis the Tories have plunged our country into can only be settled by letting the people decide.

“We need a general election, followed by a public vote, as soon as the threat of no-deal is off the table.”

The government has insisted it will not negotiate a further delay to Brexit. But a new law passed last month could require Mr Johnson to ask for another extension unless MPs agree to terms of withdrawal by October 19, two days after a summit of European leaders.