A NORTH-EAST MP pressed the Government on when its plans over Brexit will be published after the Prime Minister cast doubt on the UK’s single market relationship after leaving the EU.

Labour’s Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, said it was "vital" for the UK to be able to make decisions on sanctions during a debate on the post-Brexit transitional period.

She said the lack of detail revealed the "chaos and confusion" going on behind the scenes of the Brexit process after Theresa May was challenged by Labour former minister Pat McFadden to say if her "red line" on leaving the single market applied to any transition period after March 2019.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mrs May replied: "We said we would no longer be members of the single market because we will no longer be members of the European Union and there are the four pillars, as the European Union consistently says.

"The four pillars are indivisible, and therefore the other issues that we wish also not to be subject to like the European Court of Justice and free movement requirements mean that we will no longer be members of the single market.

"At the end point, when we have at the end of the two years negotiated the end state deal, there will then be an implementation period for that deal.

"But we're very clear that at the point at which we reach the end of those negotiations we will be out of the European Union."

Downing Street aides later declined to discuss the details of Britain's transitional deal, which they said would form part of Brexit negotiations.

Later, Brexit Minister Robin Walker said the UK must retain the ability to impose sanctions on other nations after leaving the EU, as MPs debated the future of such penalties after Brexit.

Mr Walker said the UK needed "as many tools as are available" to counter threats from abroad, although he insisted Britain would still work with allies within the EU.