Boris Johnson's 'days in Number 10 are numbered', says Beaconsfield MP Dominic Grieve

Tory rebel Dominic Grieve has launched a stinging attack on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saying his “days in Number 10 are numbered” and the Conservative Party has been “radicalised”.

The Beaconsfield MP voted with opposing parties in attempt to stop a no-deal Brexit earlier this week, having the party whip swiftly withdrawn along with 20 other Tory MPs.

The Commons defeat on Tuesday night came as a huge blow to the Prime Minister, who is determined to have no-deal as an option in Brexit negotiations.

Mr Johnson said he’d rather be “dead in a ditch” than delay leaving the European Union past the current deadline of October 31.

But he’s been accused of trying to sneak through a no-deal Brexit, which Mr Grieve says would be disastrous for the party and country.

He told ITV London’s The Late Debate: “The more this debate has gone on, the more convinced I am the Government has gone off the rails.

“This attempt to have a no-deal Brexit is probably the worst wound to inflict on our country possible. I will do everything in my power to stop it.”

Mr Grieve admitted being ousted from the Tories had been a “painful” experience, but showed that the party was being overtaken by the hard-right.

He blamed the Prime Minister for employing the Vote Leave campaign chief Dominic Cummings for the party lurching towards the right.

Mr Cummings was recruited to act as an adviser at Downing Street following Mr Johnson’s appointment as Prime Minister.

“I feel no animosity towards him at all. I look at him and I am sad to see someone who clearly has considerable talent, putting that talent to a use that appears to be so poor.

“His ability to perform as a Prime Minister is questionable and his days will be numbered.”

It has been a week of Parliamentary defeats for Mr Johnson, who has also lost his majority in the Commons.

His own brother, former Minister for London Jo Johnson, also announced he was quitting the cabinet because of an “unresolvable tension” in the family.

Mr Grieve said it was a damning indictment of the state of the party.

He added: “It speaks for itself. Jo Johnson, who I know very well, clearly has gone because he finds his own personal views irreconcilable with the extraordinary policies being pursued by his brother.”

“It’s not only that they’re being pursued but the manner in which they’re being pursued – it’s dictat, there’s the radicalisation of the party, and expelling MPs who disagree with you.”

The Prime Minister is pushing for a general election to end the Brexit deadlock in Parliament. Having lost the whip, Mr Grieve was unsure whether he’d be able to fight it as a Conservative MP.

He added: “I have so expectation of being invited back whatsoever.

“I will sit as an independent conservative MP for as long as I’ve had the whip withdrawn, I will continue to do my duty as a constituency MP and if we have an election and I’m still not a Conservative candidate I will have to think carefully about what I’ll do next.”

The Late Debate is broadcast on ITV once a month after News At Ten.