BORIS Johnson has moved the UK a step closer to a no-deal Brexit after threatening to “retain” money set aside for the EU’s £39bn divorce bill.

The former foreign secretary, who is the favourite to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister, was blasted by his rivals in the Tory leadership contest and accused of having adopted Nigel Farage’s approach to negotiations.

But the hardline approach will almost certainly endear him to the party activists who get the final say on the next Tory leader.

Any MP who wants to enter the contest to take over from May has until 5pm today to garner the support of at least eight of their colleagues and hand in their nomination papers.

Currently there are 11 potential contenders, but Johnson is, by some considerable distance, the favourite to win.

A survey of grassroots opinion by the ConservativeHome website had Johnson on 43%, with Michael Gove second on just 12%.

In one of his first interviews since entering the race to Number 10, Johnson also said he would step up preparations to deal with any disruption caused by a no-deal Brexit.

Speaking to the Times, the former foreign secretary vowed to run the country the same way he ran London when Mayor.

Referring to sea monsters from Greek mythology, who are said to live on either side of a narrow strait of water in Italy, Johnson said: “I truly believe only I can steer the country between the Scylla and Charybdis of Corbyn and Farage and onto calmer water. This can only be achieved by delivering Brexit as promised on October 31 and delivering a One Nation Tory agenda.”

He also said the £39bn settlement would only be paid when there is “greater clarity” about the way forward.

“I think our friends and partners need to understand that the money is going to be retained until such time as we have greater clarity about the way forward. I always thought it was extraordinary that we should agree to write that entire cheque before having a final deal. In getting a good deal, money is a great solvent and a great lubricant.”

Johnson has won the support of Welsh secretary Alun Cairns, who claimed the former Foreign Secretary would “protect our union” and put “excitement back into politics”.

Chris Grayling, the UK Government’s hapless transport secretary, also threw his weight behind Johnson.

International Development Secretary Rory Stewart, who also has his sights on Downing Street, claimed his leadership rival had “now adopted Farage’s approach to Brexit”.

He said: “So the choice for the members is now also clear – does our future lie with a Farage politics of rejection, or with getting a sensible Brexit deal done and then reaching out and unifying the country?”

Jeremy Hunt, who succeeded Johnson as foreign secretary last year, also dismissed the chances of an “ultra hardline approach” to discussions with Brussels.

“We will get an ultra hardline response back,” he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday show.”

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit negotiator was sceptical. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "Boris Johnson threatens not to pay the Brexit bill. This would not only hurt the UK’s credibility as an international partner, but it is absolutely unacceptable and contradicts what almost every lawyer in the UK thinks about it."

The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford said Johnson was promising “Brexit disruption” that “would be disproportionately devastating for Scotland.

The country’s future “must not be left” in his hands, he said.