- .Former Chancellor lays into Johnson for getting in the way of 'serious issues' about the EU
- .Says ex-London Mayor is running referendum campaign in the style of Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump
- .Comes as Tory infighting escalates further ahead of the crucial ballot on June 23
Tory big beast Ken Clarke has lashed out at Boris Johnson for treating the EU referendum campaign as a leadership bid - and likened him to Donald Trump.
The former chancellor, a supporter of ties with Brussels, said Mr Johnson should 'go away' as he is getting in the way of 'serious issues'.
However, Mr Clarke also risked increasingly the pressure on David Cameron from furious Eurosceptic backbenchers by admitting the Prime Minister's authority will be 'destroyed' if we vote to leave on June 23.
The intervention came as Tory infighting over the bitterly-contested referendum reached new heights, with MPs openly saying they wanted a vote of no confidence in Mr Cameron.
Former Chancellor Ken Clarke, left, has said Boris Johnson should 'go away' as he is not focusing on the key issues of the EU referendum campaign
There is intense anger over the 'Project Fear' tactics of the Remain campaign, which has issued a series of bloodcurdling warnings about the consequences of Brexit.
Mr Cameron has suggested it could put peace in Europe at risk, while houses prices, wages and pensions are also said to be under threat.
The premier will seek to demonstrate the breadth of his pro-EU push today by appearing alongside London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
The pair will launch a 'guarantee card' with five pledges about our future inside the Brussels club, including 'full access to the single market' and 'workers' rights protected' .
Speaking on BBC Raido 4's Today programme this morning, Mr Clarke vented his frustration about the way the Leave campaign were focusing on personalities and immigration.
'There is no point turning the Leave campaign into a leadership bid for Boris Johnson,’ Mr Clarke said.
‘I’m afraid it is happening. I would rather focus on the added influence (the EU) gives to the world and the comfort it gives to our friends and leading members of the EU...
‘All this about whether one or two backbenchers have signed letters calling for David Cameron, I think most of the public would agree, is a bit of a diversion.'
The ex-Cabinet minister compared Mr Johnson to Republican presidential hopeful Mr Trump, who has sparked controversy by suggesting he would build a wall on the border with Mexico and bar Muslims from entering the US.
‘I think Boris Johnson and Donald Trump should go away for a bit and enjoy themselves and not get in the way of the serious issues which modern countries in the 21st century face,’ Mr Clarke said.
Former London Mayor Mr Johnson has staged a series of flamboyant photo ops on the campaign trail
‘He’s a much nicer person than Donald Trump but his campaign is remarkably similar in my opinion – and about as relevant to the real problems that the public face.’
In the wake of Tory backbencher Nadine Dorries stating that she had already sent a letter to the powerful 1922 committee calling for a no confidence vote in Mr Cameron, Mr Clark conceded that the PM's 'authority will be destroyed' if he loses the referendum.
But he insisted: 'The public are getting fed up with Tory civil war when they thought they were being asked about the future of this country for their children and grandchildren.
‘I think one only has to ask themselves why are the Leave campaign turning the whole argument into Turkish criminals about to flood into the country and Boris Johnson’s bid for the leadership.’
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has made controversial remarks about banning Muslims from entering the US
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