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Brussels should be told to “sod off” over financial demands surrounding Brexit negotiations, Priti Patel has said.

Ms Patel said that the Government has been “ill-equipped” for negotiations and should have been more forthright in setting out its desired "end state" for the talks.

The former Cabinet minister, who resigned as international development secretary earlier this month, said one of the Government's failings had been not setting out the economic opportunities that Brexit presented.

"The Government has been ill-equipped in terms of preparations for the negotiations," she said.

"It's not an ideal state at all."

At an event in London hosted by The Spectator magazine she said: "We should have had conviction and clarity in terms of our end state and destination and presented that and been pretty forthright about it as well.

Thousands of anti-Brexit activists march to Parliament in protest 12 show all Thousands of anti-Brexit activists march to Parliament in protest 1/12 Demonstrators head towards Parliament Square. REUTERS 2/12 Signs include 'I love EU' REUTERS 3/12 The pro-EU march began in Hyde Park Corner. Si Carrington 4/12 'NHS? Brexit Wrexit' Oliver Day 5/12 The march took protesters through the streets of London. Oliver Day 6/12 One protester brought along a papier mache Queen, in reference to the blue and yellow hat she wore at the State Opening of Parliament. Peter Bailey 7/12 'Exit Brexit' Jonathan Hawley 8/12 The September sun shone as activists marched through the streets. Martin Tod 9/12 Roads were blocked during the protest. Maggie Jones 10/12 The campaigners set off shortly after 11am from Hyde Park Corner. Maggie Jones 11/12 The rally saw the activists march through the streets of central London. Johann Ketel 12/12 EU colours of blue and yellow were seen throughout the march. Judi Conner 1/12 Demonstrators head towards Parliament Square. REUTERS 2/12 Signs include 'I love EU' REUTERS 3/12 The pro-EU march began in Hyde Park Corner. Si Carrington 4/12 'NHS? Brexit Wrexit' Oliver Day 5/12 The march took protesters through the streets of London. Oliver Day 6/12 One protester brought along a papier mache Queen, in reference to the blue and yellow hat she wore at the State Opening of Parliament. Peter Bailey 7/12 'Exit Brexit' Jonathan Hawley 8/12 The September sun shone as activists marched through the streets. Martin Tod 9/12 Roads were blocked during the protest. Maggie Jones 10/12 The campaigners set off shortly after 11am from Hyde Park Corner. Maggie Jones 11/12 The rally saw the activists march through the streets of central London. Johann Ketel 12/12 EU colours of blue and yellow were seen throughout the march. Judi Conner

"My views on money are pretty clear, I don't like spending money so I would have told the EU in particular to sod off with their excessive financial demands."

She said Theresa May was leading in "very challenging circumstances" and was "struggling now with a difficult set of cards post the election".

But she said: "One of the failings is we have not set out that vision, what is that vision of Britain going to look like post-Brexit?

"What are the economic opportunities for the City of London and for many other businesses and sectors in terms of leading out in the world and potentially trading with countries we have simply not been engaged with for not just years but for decades.

"And also reflecting that the world is changing, the labour market is changing."

Ms Patel, who has been tipped as a potential leadership candidate in any future contest, said the Tory grassroots should be given a greater role in the party, including at the annual conference.