Northern Ireland business leaders warned that they would be "hung out to dry" by plans to throw open the Northern Irish border in the event of a no-deal Brexit under emergency Government plans revealed this morning.

These include slashing tariffs on a broad range of goods, with only minimal protection for some agricultural produce, leaving Northern Irish business defenceless against tariff-free EU imports and unable to compete in EU markets.

"This 'no deal' plan leaves Northern Ireland behind and ensures it would be worst affected part of UK in a 'no deal' outcome," said Seamus Leaheny of the Freight Transport Association.

"EU goods could enter Northern Ireland without any controls or tariffs but same goods entering GB from EU would be subject to tariffs. Norther Ireland has been hung out to dry," he added.

Declan Billington, a former chair of CBI Northern Ireland who received MBE for services to economic development in Northern Ireland, warned that the moves would inflame cross-border tensions.

"Northern Ireland has not been thrown under the bus, so much as under a convoy of European lorries bringing tariff-free food into the UK via NI, driving past the NI farms that have no export market in Ireland or Europe. Good luck with cross border relations on that one," he said.