A group of Brexiteers have proposed their solutions to the Irish border question which they say would avoid a hard border while allowing the UK to agree a free trade agreement with the European Union.

This can be done without “legal or operational” changes, according to a paper produced by a group of Brexiteer MPs led by Jacob Rees-Mogg.

In a new paper, the European Research Group (ERG) offers proposals which it says will allow trade across the Irish border while maintaining the integrity of the EU single market and without violating the Belfast agreement.

It says the requirements for additional declarations which would be necessary can be incorporated into the existing system used for VAT returns.

Any necessary physical checks can be carried out away from the border, the ERG says.

The paper says the heads of HM Revenue & Customs and the Irish Revenue have said there will be “no need for new customs facilities on the border” for the extra checks which will be necessary.