The Chair of the UK Parliament’s Brexit committee, Hilary Benn has stated that despite the first phase of Brexit talks reaching completion, the public remains without a clear understanding of how a hard border in Ireland can be avoided.

Mr Benn said that he has difficulty understanding how the UK can leave the Customs Union and Single Market while maintaining full regulatory alignment and an open border between Ireland and the UK in the event that the Brexit negotiations fail to reach a deal.

Mr Benn’s comments come as Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK will remain close to the EU’s regulatory regime after it leaves the EU and wants the possibility to go its own way in the future if it chooses to do so.

Giving evidence to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee recently Mr Davis said “The aim of this whole exercise will be to maintain maximum possible access to the European market whilst at the same time exercising overall freedom over what we are going to do in the future.”