Mr Johnson issued his stark analysis of the situation during the course of a fiery Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons. The Protocol is the mechanism agreed by the UK and the EU to prevent a hard border on the island of Irelnad - but critics suggest it has instead resulted in a border down the Irish Sea. Mr Johnson told MPs: "The conditions for invoking Article 16 have already been met."

       Meanwhile Emmanuel Macron will today up the stakes in France's bitter battle to win more permits for fishermen operating in British waters by unveiling a package of punitive measures which he will demand approval from Brussels.

       The French President is furious at Britain’s refusal to grant what he sees as sufficient licences for smaller vessels to fish in waters six to 12 miles from the UK coast.

       In total just 15 permits out of 47 have been granted. A total of 200 more have been issued for French boats to operate in the wider economic zone around the British isles.

       The strategy is being formulated by French Prime Minister Jean Castex and Maritime Minister Annick Girardin.

       A French Government spokesman told the Times: "The British have restarted negotiations and approved a few extra licences but we are not at all near the necessary number."

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