Boris Johnson cut adrift after Brexit ploy ends with £350m statistics rebuke

Gove denies pact over ‘glorious’ vision
Opposition leaders claim that Boris Johnson’s latest Brexit intervention was an attempt to browbeat Theresa May
Opposition leaders claim that Boris Johnson’s latest Brexit intervention was an attempt to browbeat Theresa May
INTS KALNINS/REUTERS

Boris Johnson was left politically isolated last night as Michael Gove refused to support his intervention on Brexit and the foreign secretary came under heavy fire from other cabinet colleagues.

Mr Johnson was accused of “back-seat driving” by Amber Rudd, the home secretary, who criticised him for publishing a 4,200-word vision for a “glorious” Brexit on the day that Britain suffered its fifth terrorist attack this year.

He was also rebuked by Sir David Norgrove, chairman of the UK Statistics Authority, for repeating the claim that Brexit would allow £350 million a week to be brought back under British control, enabling more money to be spent on the NHS.

Opposition leaders said that Mr Johnson’s unauthorised intervention, in which he appeared to suggest that Britain