Ministers’ wish list weeks away

The home secretary has said she “hopes” the Government will set out what it wants from Brexit “within the next few weeks”.

Amber Rudd also insisted the Government had always held the position the UK should not be part of a customs union with the EU after leaving.

But she did little to quell concerns that proposals for immigration post-Brexit had been delayed, saying only that it was “likely” the plans would be set out before exit day in March next year.

Ms Rudd also sought to calm rising tensions in the Conservative Party after pro-EU MP Anna Soubry told Theresa May to “sling out” arch Brexiteers and threatened to quit the party.

Ms Soubry’s intervention ratcheted up pressure ahead of today and tomorrow’s meetings of the Prime Minister’s ‘war cabinet’ to discuss what “end state” relationship the UK will seek with its former EU partners.

Ahead of the talks, Ms Rudd told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I hope that within the next few weeks we’ll be able to give some clarity to people.”

But she indicated that voters may have to wait for longer to see the Government’s immigration plans.

Ms Rudd said she planned to publish an immigration white paper by the end of the year, but stressed a post-Brexit implementation period of around two years during which EU citizens will be free to live and work in the UK reduced the urgency. Asked if voters would know how immigration will work after Brexit before exit day in March 2019, Ms Rudd said: “That is likely.”