Davis clarifies his comments over free trade deal benefits

David Davis has cast doubt on whether the UK will succeed in securing a Brexit deal that delivers the “exact same benefits” as EU membership.

The Tory frontbencher said he made “no apology for being ambitious”.

But he acknowledged achieving the desired outcome was “a matter of negotiation and negotiations are uncertain”.

In January, Mr Davis said the government had come up with the idea of “a comprehensive free trade agreement and a comprehensive customs agreement that will deliver the exact same benefits as we have (at the moment)”.

At the time, his words were widely interpreted as a guarantee and the sentiment was echoed by Theresa May on Wednesday, just hours after Brexit was formally triggered.

The prime minister added: “What we’re both looking for is that comprehensive trade agreement which gives that ability to trade freely into the European single market and for them to trade with us.

“It will be a different relationship, but I think it can have the same benefits in terms of that free access to trade.”

However, Mr Davis insisted yesterday his earlier comment “wasn’t a promise, it was an aim”.

Asked about it, he said: “I make no apology for being ambitious about what we’re trying to do.

“We are playing for the national interest here, I am going to aim as high as conceivably possible.”

Meanwhile, Mrs May continued to face claims she was trying to “blackmail” Brussels by linking trade and security in her letter notifying the EU of Britain’s intention to quit.