Former Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney took to Twitter to sound his dire warning in the face of widespread reports suggesting British demands for a 60 percent reduction in the catch by value in British waters had been cut to 35 percent – much closer to the 25 percent proposed by Brussels. Mr Daubney posted: “If this is true, it will be a total betrayal of our coastal communities. “The Tories will never be forgiven.”

His comments are indicative of a deep-seated unease among ex-Brexit Party MEPs fearful of Mr Johnson signing up to a deal which compromises UK sovereignty, with the transition period ending on December 31.

Speaking after Mr Johnson’s joint statement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this month, David Bull told Express.co.uk: “I’ve never seen a bigger pantomime in my life and it is exactly what we were expecting.

“Look at the language of that statement. The fact that it is a joint statement is really fishy for a start.

“There is also no deadline for the ongoing talks, which is also really suspicious.

“We’ve been fairly quiet and watching and waiting and we believed the Prime Minister when he said he was trying to negotiate the best deal possible.

“Now clearly, from what it says on my Twitter feed and Facebook, people are livid.

“If it is a sell-out, and if it is BRINO, then yes we are ready to come back and take them on.

“Because we did not fight this hard for such a poor outcome, if it is indeed a poor outcome.”

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7.41am update: ‘Irresponsible’ France uses border FURY to take Brexit swipe – ‘Could have helped!’

A French official has claimed the nation “could have helped” the UK battle the new COVID-19 strain if it hadn’t voted for Brexit as the two nations battle over the shutdown of the French border.

The comments come as Natalie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover, attacked the French Government for its decision to suddenly close its border with the UK amid concern over the new strain.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the coronavirus mutation appears to be more infectious than the previous strain.

Ms Elphicke hit out at France’s border closure, calling it “unnecessary, unhelpful, and irresponsible”.

Thierry Breton, France’s EU commissioner, used the border shutdown to describe Brexit as a “tragedy”.

He told business news outlet BFM Business: “It’s a tragedy what’s happening in Britain, and this Brexit is a tragedy – we see it more and more every day.”

He also claimed the country could have provided assistance to the UK if it had “chosen to remain in the European Union”.

7.30am update: “Tories will never be forgiven”

Boris Johnson will never be forgiven if he signs up to a deal which sells out Britain’s fishing industry, a leading Brexiteer has said, amid rumours UK negotiators are on the verge of striking an agreement with the EU.

Former Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney took to Twitter to sound his dire warning in the face of widespread reports suggesting British demands for a 60 percent reduction in the catch by value in British waters had been cut to 35 percent – much closer to the 25 percent proposed by Brussels.

Mr Daubney posted: “If this is true, it will be a total betrayal of our coastal communities.

“The Tories will never be forgiven.”