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Tories round on Johnson after latest Brexit outburst

BORIS JOHNSON’S “appalling” claim that Theresa May’s Brexit strategy has put Britain in a “suicide vest” was heavily criticised by MPs of all political parties yesterday.

Several of his fellow Tories rounded on the former foreign secretary, with junior Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan declaring “the political end of Boris Johnson.”

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Johnson launched what appeared to be a transparent attempt to divert focus from his private life.

The Sunday Times has reported that PM Theresa May’s officials have compiled a “dirty dossier” on Mr Johnson following the announcement that his wife Marina Wheeler was divorcing him amid rumours of yet another affair.

Mr Johnson wrote in his column: “We have opened ourselves to perpetual political blackmail. We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution and handed the detonator to Michel Barnier.”

Labour MP David Lammy said Mr Johnson’s comments “reek of desperation, ego and ugly ambition,” adding: “This pound-shop Donald Trump has no principles and he would throw any ally under the bus to further the leadership ambitions he’s harboured since Eton.”

Shadow education minister Angela Rayner said: “Tory leadership battle has not yet officially started and they are already using analogies such as ‘suicide vests’ to slur one side against the other.

“The other side is reported to have a ‘dirty dossier’ on Boris Johnson. Truly awful stuff in our politics.”

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood warned that Mr Johnson was “taking us closer to very dark politics.

“[His] latest diatribe saying the EU is ready to detonate a suicide vest is appalling. He knows what he’s doing. It’s pure alt-right, wanting us to hate other Europeans. Don’t fall for it.”

Some of the strongest rebukes, however, came from members of Mr Johnson’s own party. Mr Duncan said the remarks represented “one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics.”

Mr Duncan said the comments should spell the end of Mr Johnson’s political career, and added: “If it isn’t now, I will make sure it is later.”

Fellow Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said: “I’m stunned at the nature of this attack. There is no justification for such an outrageous, inappropriate and hurtful analogy.

“If we don’t stop this extraordinary use of language over Brexit, our country might never heal. Again I say, enough.”

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