BORIS Johnson has been dismissed as a “liar” by one of England’s top football pundits after claiming to have always backed England’s stars against racists.

The Prime Minister, who repeatedly declined the opportunity to condemn people who jeered the team for taking the knee, was criticised by Gary Neville.

Ahead of and during Euro 2020, Gareth Southgate’s side was booed by its own fans for taking the anti-racism stance at the beginning of matches.

Johnson and other Tory ministers consistently failed to denounce the scenes, with Home Secretary Priti Patel dismissing the anti-discrimination protest as “gesture politics”.

Three of England’s young stars were racially abused after their penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy on Sunday. In the aftermath, the Prime Minister’s previous use of racist tropes again surfaced.

Johnson was asked by Sky News whether his record of using racist language undermines his claim to be a unifying leader.

He responded: “Obviously I reject that … or disagree with it I should say.

“I think that racism has absolutely no place in our society and I think the England team represented the very best of us and our country.

“I think the outpouring of love for the England team on Sunday showed this country at its best and most united. I think we all want to take practical steps to prevent racism in all its forms.”

READ MORE: Gary Neville attacks Boris Johnson after England stars racially abused

It was put to the Prime Minister at his “leveling up” press conference that he and his ministers failed to condemn the booing of the players from before the tournament.

Despite repeatedly refusing to rebuke those who jeered the England team, Johnson claimed he had “always said that it was wrong to boo the England players and that is my firm belief”.

He added: “I think that as a society we have to understand that we’ve made progress in tackling racism – I would say in my lifetime, a lot of progress – but I think we have to recognise that there’s still a long way to go.”

Neville posted a succinct response on Twitter: “Liar.”

Responding to someone who urged him to “leave Boris alone”, the former Manchester United captain wrote: “I will when he leaves office and is replaced with someone competent and doesn’t lie.”

It is the second time this week the Prime Minister has been chastised by Gary Neviile.

After England players were racially abused online, Johnson expressed solidarity on social media.

During an interview with Sky News, Neville replied: “The taking of the knee over the last month, when the players tried to explain it was to promote equality and to be against racism, was ridiculed by our top-ranking government officials.

“When we get racist abuse after a football match at the end of a tournament, I expect it, unfortunately, because it exists, and it’s actually promoted by the Prime Minister, who called Muslim women ‘letterboxes’, said they look like letterboxes.

“Honestly, we’ve got to do something about this. I keep saying it on television, I keep getting accused of having a go at the Conservative Party.

“It’s nothing to do with Conservative or Labour or Liberal Democrat, it’s to do with integrity, it’s to do with doing the right thing.”