Prominent members of the British Conservative Party have criticised the former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, for comparing Theresa May's Brexit strategy to wrapping a "suicide vest" around Britain.
Several MPs have accused Mr Johnson of going too far in his comments, which were made in an article for Britain's Mail on Sunday.
The UK Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said he is backing Mrs May - while British Home Secretary Sajid Javid cuttingly said the Tories are not looking for a new leader.
One minister called Mr Johnson's comments "disgusting", while another said he needs to "grow up".
Mr Javid told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I think there are much better ways to articulate your differences.
"It's a reminder for all of us in public policy, whichever party we represent, to use measured language because I think that's what the public want to see."
Amid growing speculation that Mr Johnson is angling to replace Theresa May as leader, Mr Javid added: "The Conservative Party is not looking for a new leader because we are lucky to have a very good leader. She is also the prime minister of this country and is doing a great job."
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Mr Brokenshire said: "Boris has obviously expressed his views... I think he's wrong on that. I think the tone that he's used isn't right and I think we just need to be very focused, all actually moving forward with the Chequers plan."
In the article, Mr Johnson once again attacked Mrs May's so-called Chequers plan, writing: "We look like a seven-stone weakling being comically bent out of shape by a 500lb gorilla.
"And the reason is simple: Northern Ireland, and the insanity of the so-called 'backstop'. We have opened ourselves to perpetual political blackmail.
"We have wrapped a suicide vest around the British constitution - and handed the detonator to Michel Barnier.
"We have given him a jemmy with which Brussels can choose - at any time - to crack apart the Union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
British Foreign Office minister Alan Duncan, Mr Johnson's former deputy, wrote on Twitter: "For Boris to say that the PM's view is like that of a suicide bomber is too much.
"This marks one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics. I'm sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isn't now, I will make sure it is later."
For Boris to say that the PM’s view is like that of a suicide bomber is too much. This marks one of the most disgusting moments in modern British politics. I’m sorry, but this is the political end of Boris Johnson. If it isn’t now, I will make sure it is later. #neverfittogovern https://t.co/rdI0FWQhbi
— Sir Alan Duncan MP (@AlanDuncanMP) September 8, 2018
Tom Tugendhat, chair of the British Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said: "A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand.
"The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes. Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died In horrific pain. Some need to grow up. Comparing the PM to that isn't funny."
A suicide bomber murdered many in the courtyard of my office in Helmand. The carnage was disgusting, limbs and flesh hanging from trees and bushes. Brave men who stopped him killing me and others died In horrific pain. Some need to grow up. Comparing the PM to that isn’t funny. https://t.co/IeRWhmhgS9
— Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) September 8, 2018
UK Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt added: "There is no justification for such an outrageous, inappropriate and hurtful analogy.
"If we don't stop this extraordinary use of language over Brexit, our country might never heal."
UK Labour's education spokeswoman Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson's comments showed the state that the Tories were in.
She said: "Tory leadership battle has not yet officially started and they are already using analogies such as 'suicide vests' to slur one side against the other. The other side is reported to have a 'dirty dossier' on Boris Johnson. Truly awful stuff in our politics."
It comes less than a week after Mr Johnson wrote in his Daily Telegraph column that Mrs May was "waving the white flag" in her negotiations with the European Union.
