The European Union will strike a free trade deal with the United Kingdom after Brexit “for sure”, the bloc's trade commissioner has said in a major boost for Theresa May.

Mrs May has previously said she would be willing to walk away from Brexit negotiations without securing a deal if Brussels sought to punish the UK by imposing unfair trade tariffs.

But Cecilia Malmstrom, the EU Commissioner for Trade, has now said the bloc will reach a free trade agreement with the UK after its divorce from Brussels.