Home Secretary Priti Patel has said the UK will diverge from the European Union after Brexit.

She told Sky's Sophy Ridge On Sunday: "There is no disagreement in Government at all, we are clear - we are leaving. We will be taking back control of our laws, our money, our borders.

"In terms of divergence, we are not having alignment. We will be diverging. We want to take control of our laws, money and our borders.

"And to do that we will not be rule-takers - we will be setting our own laws and that is a fundamental feature of leaving the European Union."

Ms Patel confirmed that the Migration Advisory Committee would report this week on the points-based immigration system and immigration cap for the UK.

And she said: "We have been abundantly clear... that we are absolutely determined to change the immigration system, end the complexity of the immigration system, have simpler rules, have a points-based system where we can absolutely have people that bring the right kind of skills for our labour market, meet the right kind of labour market tests, but also bring the right kind of skills that we need in our country - promoting the brightest and the best.

"While at the same time supporting our public services through initiatives such as the NHS visa that I announced a few months ago."

She said British businesses have been "far too reliant on low-skilled and quite frankly cheap labour from the EU" and the Government thinks it is "about time" that businesses "started to invest in people across the whole of the United Kingdom".

Irish minister for European affairs, Helen McEntee, says she feels negotiating a new trade deal after Brexit will be very difficult.

"My own personal view is that Brexit is really only at half-time; we have a huge amount of work still to do," she said on Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday.

"I think it's very welcome, but with a tinge of sadness that the Withdrawal Agreement has passed through all the stages in Westminster.

"Yes, on the first of February, the UK will leave, and nothing will change.

"However, the idea that we can negotiate a trade deal with one that is comprehensive, one that provides very little change for our citizens, not just in the UK and Ireland, but the EU as well, within about a 12-month space, it's very difficult.

"Now of course the EU is willing and Michel Barnier is still there, and he is working with his team, and all member states are included to ensure that we have a mandate and that we are ready for these negotiations when they start."

"We do know, of course, that Boris Johnson has said he does not want to have an extension, which means trying to negotiate a very difficult trade deal, essentially in 10 months," Ms McEntee added.

"We know, looking at previous trade, how long they have taken, but we have said 'we are willing, we are ready'.

"And what we do need to make sure that in all of the negotiations Ireland's priorities are heard, that the other 26 member states' priorities are heard and that there is a level playing field, that we have a balance of rights and obligations throughout all of this."