Boris Johnson piles pressure on Theresa May to ditch Chequers plan ‘that threatens trade deal with US’ and backs rival blueprint

BORIS Johnson has backed an alternative plan to quit the EU launched by a group of Tory Brexiteers as he pressures Theresa May to “chuck Chequers”.

Jacob Rees-Mogg and David Davis helped unveil the rival blueprint in Westminster this morning, which the former Foreign Secretary called a “fine piece of work”.

The leading backbenchers said the Government's White Paper will “absolutely preclude” a free trade agreement with America, and only their plan allows Britain to realise the full benefits of cutting ties with Brussels.

Mr Rees-Mogg said he hoped Mrs May would agree to ditch her existing idea for a future arrangement with the EU and opt for a looser, Canada-style free trade agreement.

At the launch of the report by the Institute of Economic Affairs, called “Plan A+”, he said:  "The Prime Minister is a lady of singular wisdom and therefore is likely to recognise the reality that Chequers doesn't have much support either in this country or abroad and this plan solves all her problems.”

He added: "With her wisdom and insight I'm sure she will be thinking very carefully about adopting it."

The key points of the plan are as follows:

• The UK should seek a "basic" free trade agreement for goods with the EU
• It should open simultaneous discussions on securing new long-term free trade deals with America, China and India
• To prevent a "hard border" in Northern Ireland have "cooperation mechanisms" to enable trade "formalities" to be completed away from the border
• Keep parts of the withdrawal agreement which have already been agreed, such as citizens' rights, the "divorce" bill and the 21-month transition period after the UK leaves in March 2019
• On immigration, free movement should be replaced with an "efficient and balanced framework" for workers from the EU and the rest of the world which "recognises the economic and social benefits and costs of immigration"

Mr Johnson revealed his support speaking to reporters outside his home today, and then on Twitter – where he used the hashtag “Chuck Chequers”.

He added: “This is a plan the EU would understand and respect - delivering prosperity for the UK and our European partners.

“I’ve no doubt it would unite MPs and the country.”

The alternate plan urges Mrs May to open trade talks with the US to try and break the deadlock with Brussels.

The major intervention, just days before the Tory conference, piles the pressure on the PM to opt for the sort of arrangement with the EU like Canada currently enjoys.

And the Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab broke ranks and risked infuriating No10 by suggesting he was “always listening to new proposals and new ideas” ahead of its publication.

The document suggests the UK should start by seeking a "basic" free trade agreement for goods.

At the same time, it says the Government should open simultaneous discussions on securing new long-term free trade deals with countries such as the United States, China and India.

In order to ensure there is no return of a "hard border" between Northern Ireland and the Republic, the report calls for "cooperation mechanisms" to enable trade "formalities" between the two jurisdictions to be completed away from the border.

It reads: "The UK running its own economy will not render a deal with the EU impossible.

"It will bring back real growth, let the UK do other trade deals, and create leverage to get positive results from EU negotiations.

"Political, trade, and regulatory independence is therefore not just an ideological position, but what makes the gains possible."