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Blustering Boris Johnson has refused to answer a crucial question about Brexit during a chaotic interview.

The mop-haired Foreign Secretary pointedly did not rule out EU free movement continuing for years after March 2019.

Labour effectively say Britain should keep its current arrangements during a transition period by staying in the single market.

Brexit Secretary David Davis branded a bid for that approach "silly" last week.

But today Mr Johnson would not rule out continuing free movement - temporarily - as government policy.

Quite the opposite. He dropped what appeared to be a big hint that Theresa May could announce it in a major speech later this month.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I’m not going to pre-empt any announcements that the Prime Minister will make about this in due course."

(Image: REUTERS)

Mrs May is due to give a major speech in Europe in a bid to break the deadlock in Brexit talks between Brussels and the UK. Rumoured dates include September 22.

Mr Johnson spoke as MPs prepare for tonight's dramatic midnight vote on whether to block Mrs May's flagship Brexit law - the Repeal Bill .

On paper the law simply converts EU into UK law but it contains sweeping 'Henry VIII' powers letting her make law without scrutiny.

Despite Labour efforts to block the Bill, it is unlikely to fail - but could be watered down in a 64 gruelling hours of line-by-line debate next month.

Mr Johnson said opponents would be "voting to frustrate Brexit by producing a chaotic result".

He called for a "Renaissance" for the UK and EU declaring: "We need to get this great ship launched."

But he ummed and aahed his way through the appearance on the BBC's prime political interview slot when asked hard questions.

He claimed the "promises to the British people" would be kept - but was unable to say when.

And asked what Theresa May should do to restore MPs' confidence he replied: "I don't think... frankly... I think she... What people want... Keep going! She needs to keep... keep going, keep... keep... keep going, get this thing done."

It came as Theresa May's Brexit demands were branded a "letter to Santa" by the TUC's general secretary.

Frances O'Grady said the Prime Minister "is being held hostage by her hardliners" and called on her to keep Britain in the single market, mirroring growing calls by Labour Remainers.

Ms O'Grady said: "You can be in the single market and leave the EU. There are a number of countries in that position."