A no deal Brexit is "unthinkable", Amber Rudd said yesterday, contradicting the Brexit secretary just hours after he said the UK has "the right to walk away".

Speaking in the House of Commons David Davis said the prospect of no deal should be on the table "for negotiating reasons" as he reiterated the importance of being able to leave talks if the only deal on offer is bad for Britain.

He told MPs the Government was "straining every sinew" to secure a comprehensive deal but it was vital that in a negotiation "you always have to have the right to walk away - if you don't, you get a terrible deal".

It came as the head of the Home Office admitted the army could be deployed to protect the border if Britain leaves the EU without a Brexit deal.