Mr Redwood also dismissed claims the PM is considering surrendering her plans for the customs union to avoid a series of defeats in Parliament over the issue. The UK will not be able to

strike its own free-trade deals with countries around the world if it remains a member of the customs union, which is a point of contention for many Government Ministers. Mrs May is seeking

to minimise friction to trade between the UK and the European Union following Brexit, while also avoiding a hard border with Ireland. Tensions surrounding the question of the customs union

have increased sharply since the Government was defeated heavily in the House of Lords last week. The Lords voted in favour of an amendment to the EU withdrawal Bill which seeks to maintain