Ireland’s Europe Minister Helen McEntee refused to rule out the EU vetoing a Brexit trade deal that divergences from EU rules and regulations. In a sign that the trade talks could quickly become deadlocked, Ms McEntee told Sky News that the level of divergence proposed by the British Government was “worrying” to the EU. This comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel took a tough line on ripping up the EU rulebook after Britan leaves the EU.

Sky News host Niall Paterson said: “Priti Patel made it clear earlier that the whole point of Brexit was to permit divergence.

“In those circumstances, would Ireland veto any deal that permitted the level of divergence that Patel was talking about?”

The Irish minister appeared to dodge that question when she responded: “It’s not about Ireland vetoing a deal.

“It’s about all member-states ensuring that we want a close relationship with the UK.”

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She continued: “There has to be a balance of rights and obligations and a level playing field in the future trading relationship.

“We need to protect the single market and rights and values that underpin the EU.

“It is quite worrying that there is a lot of talk about divergence.

“This is why the withdrawal agreement was so important and why the protocol on Northern Ireland and the backstop was so important.”

The Europe Minister added: “The idea we can negotiate a trade deal that is close and comprehensive and with very little change for citizens in the UK, in Ireland and in the EU is very difficult.

“Boris Johnson has said he doesn’t want an extension so that means negotiating a complex trade deal is essentially ten months and we know from history how long trade deals can take but we are willing and ready to try.”

Ms Entee also dismissed that Brexit day was hugely significant, insisting that Brexit was “only at half time” and “nothing will change next Friday”.

Earlier on Sky News, Priti Patel struck a tough tone on post-Brexit divergence from rules and regulations made in Brussels.

The Home Secretary “we are not having alignment,” in remarks that were took a tougher line than Chancellor Sajid Javid who last week said the UK would not diverge “just for the sake of it”.