Brexit: Ex-Tory policy chief says he could reject Theresa May's deal over Irish Border

George Freeman said ensuring there is no hard border in Northern Ireland is a red line for him and other Tory MPs

The ex-leader of Theresa May’s Downing Street policy board has said he will not back her Brexit deal if it creates a hard border in Ireland.

George Freeman MP warned that time is running out to resolve the issue which he said is a “red line” for himself and other Conservative backbenchers.

Brexit Secretary David Davis arrived in Brussels on Monday morning where he is expected to try and hammer out an agreement on the rules governing the transition period after the UK leaves the EU.

If an agreement is reached it could be signed off at the end of the week at a summit, though European Council President Donald Tusk is set to make any transition deal conditional on the UK addressing the Irish border issue.

Mid-Norfolk MP Mr Freeman spoke out after a committee report last week branded Ms May’s current plans to allay the need for a border as “blue sky thinking”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour, he said commitments Ms May had already made as part of her negotiating position are "irreconcilable" with Europe's expectations.

Emphasising that the border issue is a "red line" for him and other Tories, he added: "I would find it very difficult to vote for a Brexit that puts a border back between the north and south in Ireland and creates a cliff edge for investment next spring."

Ms May has both vowed to leave the EU’s customs union and also maintain no border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

But EU negotiators have said the two positions are irreconcilable, with the only way to ensure there is no border, being for the UK, or at least Northern Ireland, to stay in full regulatory alignment with Brussels by remaining in the customs union.

Ms May’s current legislative programme has been delayed because Tory rebels are pushing an amendment to the Trade Bill that could force her to stay in the customs union, while Tory whips are unsure they can beat it.

When asked if a forced vote to stay in the customs union could solve the issue, Mr Freeman said accepted that doing so could also anger Brexiteer Tories.

He said: “If colleagues in the House push on the customs union too quickly it'll be seen as a last stand to stop Brexit.

“But if this isn't sorted in six to nine months it'll be very different.”

Mr Davis is in Brussels to thrash out details of transition arrangements that would come into force when Britain leaves in March 2019, with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier.

The Brexit Secretary has said he can "live with" an implementation period of under two years if it helps to secure an early deal.

The Prime Minister will head to Brussels on Thursday for a meeting of the European Council where she is hoping a deal on the arrangements will be signed off.

Britain had hoped the Council would herald the start of substantive trade talks as well, but Mr Tusk has said they cannot begin until the UK agrees the draft text of the divorce agreement – which is being delayed by a failure to set out how the UK can both ensure there is no border in Ireland and leave the customs union.

The Common Northern Ireland Select Committee warned last week that Ms May’s pledge of no hard border in Ireland after Brexit can only be achieved if the UK remains fully aligned with EU rules for the foreseeable future.

A report published by the group said there is “no evidence” of the technical solution promised by Ms May, to allow Northern Ireland to break free from the customs union and single market without the return of border posts and checks.

It said the Government’s existing proposals were “blue sky thinking” which would be impossible to implement before Brexit day, now just one year away.

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised to keep the UK in "a customs union" with the EU, which he says would allow the UK to keep no border with the Republic of Ireland.