Boris Johnson offering no new ideas on Brexit, says Downing Street

Downing Street has delivered a stinging slapdown to former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, saying he has produced “no new ideas” on Brexit.

In a barely-veiled rebuff to Mr Johnson’s ambitions to become prime minister, Theresa May’s official spokesman told reporters that the country needed “serious leadership with a serious plan” which was being provided by the current premier.

The comments came after Mr Johnson used his regular Daily Telegraph column to launch a scathing attack on Mrs May’s Brexit strategy, branding it a “fix” that can only lead to victory for the EU.

In what was seen by many at Westminster as an opening sally in a bid to oust the Prime Minister, the ex-foreign secretary insisted the UK is “lying flat on the canvas” in withdrawal talks.

Britain has “gone into battle with the white flag fluttering over our leading tank” due to Mrs May’s Chequers proposals to align UK standards on goods to the EU, Mr Johnson said.

But Mrs May’s spokesman insisted that the Chequers proposals were “the only credible and negotiable plan which has been put forward”.

And the spokesman added: “Boris Johnson resigned over Chequers. There’s no new ideas in this article to respond to.

“What we need at this time is serious leadership with a serious plan and that’s exactly what the country has with this Prime Minister and this Brexit plan.”