Clean-cut Boris refuses to rule out challenge to Theresa

He wants to take ‘responsibility’ for Brexit – and warns of EU blackmail over May’s plan

BORIS Johnson made a thinlyveiled public pitch for the Tory leadership yesterday as he savaged Theresa May’s Brexit deal and refused to rule out a challenge for her position.

Sporting a more business-like closely-cropped hairstyle instead of his usual wild mop, he warned the PM’s agreement left the UK open to ‘blackmail’ by Brussels – and stated he was ready to take ‘responsibility’.

Although he insisted it was ‘nonsense’ to suggest he had already begun offering jobs in a future Johnson administration, the former Foreign Secretary sidestepped the opportunity to promise not to stand against the Prime Minister.

And he hinted at his ambition to return to the front line of government, saying the British people should not ‘underestimate the deep sense of personal responsibility I feel for Brexit’.

At the start of a critical week for the Prime Minister, Mr Johnson said Mrs May’s Brexit deal could get through the Commons if it was stripped of the backstop measure – an insurance policy to prevent a hard border with Ireland.

Despite the EU’s opposition, he claimed that would be ‘relatively simple’ to achieve. A heavy defeat in tomorrow’s crunch vote in the Commons is likely to lead to fresh pressure on the Prime Minister’s leadership.

Jacob Rees-Mogg called on his party to back a ‘unity’ team of Mr Johnson running alongside Remain supporter Amber Rudd as his deputy.

But Brexiteers are understood to be divided between supporting Mr Johnson and the two former Brexit secretaries, David Davis and Dominic Raab.

However, a YouGov survey in the Sunday Times found that all Mrs May’s leadership rivals have negative net approval ratings.

Mr Davis is on minus 19 points, Mr Raab on minus 21 points and Mr Johnson on minus 35 points. Potential Remainer rival Sajid Javid is minus 18, while Miss Rudd is minus 23.

Yesterday, Mr Johnson described the PM’s Brexit deal as ‘diabolical’ and a ‘legal lobster pot’.

Asked to give an ‘absolute promise’ he would not stand against Mrs May, Mr Johnson said: ‘I will continue to advocate what I think is the most sensible plan.’

Challenged on whether he had already begun speaking to colleagues to offer them roles in his future government, Mr Johnson told BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: ‘I can tell you that’s nonsense.’

Setting out his Brexit plan, Mr Johnson said resolving the Irish border issue should be postponed so it forms part of the talks on a future trade deal and the UK should withhold a ‘substantial chunk’ of the £39billion divorce bill until that deal is done. Preparations should also be stepped up for a no-deal Brexit, he said.

But Scottish Secretary David Mundell shot down Mr Johnson’s claims Mrs May could renegotiate a deal with the EU which would remove the need for a backstop. Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Mr Mundell said: ‘It’s not possible to have a withdrawal agreement without the backstop.’

Asked whether he would serve in a Cabinet under a Prime Minister Johnson, Mr Mundell said it would be ‘extremely difficult’.

He added: ‘Mr Johnson and I don’t agree on a whole range of issues and I don’t see myself being able to serve in that way.’

Mr Johnson admitted he would feel personally responsible if people lost their jobs in a no-deal situation, adding: ‘Do not underestimate the deep sense of personal responsibility I feel for Brexit. It breaks my heart to think we should consign ourselves to a future in which the EU effectively rules us in many respects and yet we have no say round the table in Brussels.’

THE European Court of Justice is set to rule the UK can cancel Brexit by revoking Article 50 a day before MPs vote on Theresa May’s deal, it was claimed. European judges will issue a ruling today, ahead of tomorrow’s Commons vote. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has said the Government will not reverse Article 50.

‘Advocate what is the most sensible plan’