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WHAT DOES BREXIT MEAN?

Theresa May to face grilling from MPs amid concerns Government is struggling to agree on a Brexit strategy

Comes a day after the PM distanced herself from Brexit Secretary David Davis's suggestion on immigration

Theresa May

THERESA May will face a grilling from MPs today amid concerns the Government is struggling to agree on a strategy for Brexit.

It comes a day after the Prime Minister distanced herself from Brexit Secretary David Davis's suggestion it is "very improbable" the UK can regain control over its own borders while remaining part of the European single market.

 Theresa May is set for a grilling by MPs on the Government's Brexit strategy
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Theresa May is set for a grilling by MPs on the Government's Brexit strategyCredit: Getty Images

The apparent rebuke sparked concerns ministers are "confused" and cannot agree policy on leaving the European Union, and Mrs May is expected to face questions on the issue after delivering a Commons statement on the G20 summit in China.

The conundrum of how to maintain the economic benefits of single market membership while also ending free movement of EU citizens - seen by many as incompatible positions - has become central to the debate over how to deliver Brexit.

Mr Davis made his remarks on the single market during a lengthy Commons speech on Monday which MPs derided as "waffle" and "empty platitudes", and Mrs May can expect to face calls for more detail.

 The so-called 'Three Brexiteers' are yet to produce an agreed strategy for leaving the EU
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The so-called 'Three Brexiteers' are yet to produce an agreed strategy for leaving the EUCredit: PA

Despite Mr Davis's comment being made from the despatch box - where ministers are expected to speak on behalf of the Government - the PM's spokeswoman said he was expressing a personal opinion rather than official policy.

She said Mrs May maintained an "open mind" about what could be secured from negotiations with the remaining 27 member states under Article 50 of the European Union treaties, and planned to be "ambitious" in her stance.

Mrs May can also expect to face questions over how Britain will control immigration after exiting the EU, after she ruled out the introduction of an Australian-style points-based system during her visit to China.

She said the policy, which was proposed by the Leave campaign during the EU referendum, was ''not a silver bullet'' to reduce the numbers coming to the UK.

 The grilling will come straight after the new PM's second-ever PMQs session, where she is up against Jeremy Corbyn
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The grilling will come straight after the new PM's second-ever PMQs session, where she is up against Jeremy CorbynCredit: PA

But her spokeswoman poured cold water on suggestions that she has instead plumped for a work permit system which would require EU nationals to secure a job offer before coming to settle in the UK.

MPs may also quiz Mrs May on a new UK-Australia working group to focus on "scoping out" a free trade agreement between the two countries.

The grilling will come straight after the first Prime Minister’s Questions session since July 20, and only the second time the new PM will take on Jeremy Corbyn at the despatch box.

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