Getty British troops may have to be drafted in to guard the UK borders says the Home Office

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Philip Rutnam, the Home Office permanent secretary, was quizzed on whether the UK had adequate control of its borders if Brexit negotiations flop. Yvette Cooper, Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee asked whether the UK could end up relying on the armed forces to provide border checks. Mr Rutnam said: “I think it would be unwise to rule anything out. It seems clear to me that any use of the military would be an absolute last resort. “Our preference – strong preference – is to deal with the border and security needed at the border through border force and that is the basis in which our planning is proceeding.”

The Home Office minister said that an extra 300 border force officers were being recruited in a bid to ensure that there is a smooth transition whether Britain strikes a deal with the EU or not. But James McGrory, the executive director of Open Britain told The Independent that the idea of border troops “shows just how absurd and damaging the Government’s threat to leave the EU with no deal is”. He told the newspaper: “A Brexit with no deal would be damaging and unworkable, with consequences that we cannot foresee. “It is time their Government dropped this threat and negotiated to retain a close relationship with Europe that keeps Britain an open, tolerant and peaceful country.”

Getty Amber Rudd said it was "unthinkable" that the two sides would fail to strike a deal

Theresa May was set to make a pitch to fellow EU leaders in Brussels tonight as she tries to break a deadlock in Brexit talks that has left Britain's future trading position up in the air. However, EU officials expect no movement in negotiating positions from either side before the other 27 leaders deliver a verdict on progress on Friday. EU chiefs want Britain to offer guidance on divorce terms, particularly the bill, before they will even talk about trade. An EU official said: “"We do not expect at this stage any new initiatives between now and the European Council.”

Getty Brexit minister David Davis said London had no plan to walk away from talks