Downing Street Rebukes Boris Johnson Over Brexit 'suicide Vest' Jibe Amid Growing Tory Backlash telegraph.co.uk

Downing Street has rebuked Boris Johnson for claiming Theresa May’s Brexit strategy had strapped a “suicide vest” around the UK constitution and handed the detonator to Brussels.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said he did not want to give Mr Johnson’s comments “further oxygen” as he insisted Mrs May was “fully focused” on Brexit negotiations.

It came as Mr Johnson suffered a backlash from senior Tory MPs as they said they would refuse to serve in a government led by the former foreign secretary.

David Gauke, the Justice Secretary, said he was “not a natural Boris supporter” and that “there is no vacancy” to be prime minister when he was asked if he would serve under Mr Johnson.