Priti Patel insists Britain will diverge from EU post-Brexit despite warning it could rule out free trade deal

Priti Patel has insisted the UK "will be diverging” from the European Union after Brexit, despite the bloc warning this could rule out a free trade deal.

EU chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt said last week that it would be “very difficult” for a deal to be signed if Number 10 does not commit to its rules on trade, immigration and finance.

But the Home Secretary said there is “no disagreement in government at all” that that there will be divergence from the bloc's rules.

“There is no disagreement in Government at all, we are clear – we are leaving. We will be taking back control of our laws, our money, our borders,” she told Sky’s Sophie Ridge programme on Sunday.

“In terms of divergence, we are not having alignment. We will be diverging. We want to take control of our laws, money and our borders.”

Mr Verhofstadt, the EU’s Brexit coordinator, said last week: "I think both sides have an interest to be very ambitious. But how far this will go is very difficult to say because it will depend on what the willingness is of the UK side to also comply with a number of standards in the European Union.”

Asked on the outcomes if Britain does not sign up to such stipulations, he said: "It will be very difficult to have a broad free trade agreement at that moment.

It comes after the prime minister officially signed the Brexit withdrawal agreement, which he hailed as a symbol to “move forward as one country”. It gained Royal assent from the Queen on Thursday and European leaders will vote to approve it next week.

The prime minister has vowed to secure a trade deal by the end of 2020, when the 11-month transition period that opens after the UK formally leaves on January 31 ends.

However, the EU has repeatedly said the period is too short to guarantee a comprehensive trade arrangement.

Helen McEntree, the Irish minister for European affairs, added to the doubt on Sunday morning, warning there is "a huge amount of work still to do" to sign a deal and that "nothing will change" on February 1 until existing hurdles are overcome.