Boris Johnson has launched a scathing attack on Theresa May's Brexit strategy, branding it a "fix" that can only lead to victory for the European Union.
In what is likely to be seen by many at Westminster as the beginning of a bid to try to oust the prime minister, the former 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.
The Tory heavyweight compared withdrawal negotiations between Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and the EU's Michel Barnier to a rigged wrestling match.
Writing in the UK's Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson said: "Out of their corners come Dominic Raab and Michel Barnier, shrugging their shoulders and beating their chests - and I just hope you aren't one of those trusting souls who still thinks it could really go either way.
"The fix is in. The whole thing is about as pre-ordained as a bout between Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy; and in this case, I am afraid, the inevitable outcome is a victory for the EU, with the UK lying flat on the canvas and 12 stars circling symbolically over our semi-conscious head."
Mr Johnson accused "some members" of the Government of deliberately using the Irish border situation to "stop a proper Brexit" and effectively keep Britain in the EU.
He said that the real "scandal" was "not that we have failed, but that we have not even tried" on Brexit.
The blistering intervention comes as Mrs May faces growing opposition on Tory benches to the Chequers Cabinet compromise on the Brexit strategy which triggered the resignation from the Government of Mr Johnson.
With Parliament returning from recess on Tuesday, the PM is expected to face a coordinated effort from Tory hardline Brexiteers to abandon her exit agenda amid reports that election strategist Sir Lynton Crosby is involved in a "chuck Chequers" campaign.
The comments followed claims from former Brexit secretary David Davis that Mrs May had positioned herself for "open sesame" on further Brexit climbdowns after saying she would not be pushed into compromises "that are not in our national interest".
Mr Davis branded the Chequers blueprint as being "actually almost worse than being in" the EU.
However the former leadership hopeful cautioned against any efforts to unseat Mrs May over the plans.
"Let me be absolutely clear. It is absolutely possible to dump Chequers without changing leader - and that's the best way to do it," he told The Times.
"Anyone who conflates getting rid of Chequers with changing the leadership is confusing their aims."
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