Suzanne Evans was forced to defend Brexit on LBC against a hostile panel made up of journalist Martin Vander Weyer and Labour MP Emma Hardy. Ms Evans insisted "goods will be cheaper from certain countries" thanks to the UK being free from EU rule and regulations. But panel questioned the impact Brexit trade deals would have on British farming.

       Ms Evans was asked by LBC host Iain Dale: "Do you accept that there have been difficulties caused by Brexit difficulties?

       "Yes, absolutely," replied Ms Evans.

       "Partly I think mostly because of EU recalcitrance on the fact that they haven't actually played ball as they have been determined to punish us.

       "We saw that throughout the EU referendum campaign and I think that that punishment whipping if you like of Britain, is still continuing at pace.

       "I feel very frustrated, you know, I think, on the one hand, the Vote Leave campaign was not the government so and I remember doing interviews and saying, you know, you can't make any hard and fast promises because the government has got to take Brexit by the horns, it's got to run with it, and it's got to make it work.

       "We're simply showing you what could be done and yeah, there have ultimately been failings. Again, I think because the pandemic has forced things to take a backseat and things haven't progressed as well as they should have done.

       "I think David Frost did a great job, I think Liz Truss id a great job,

       "We've signed umpteen trade deals, goods will be cheaper from certain countries if you take out the inflationary factors that as I know you're aware, Martin have been caused by other pressures."

       Mr Weyer replied: "Beef and lamb from Australia will be cheaper, you know, at the expense of British farmers."

       "Farmers won't exist in the East Riding," added Ms Hardy.

       "Well, I will let's wait and see," replied Ms Evans.

       "I think that's catastrophizing to quite some extent."

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       Foreign Secretary Liz Truss raised hopes of a trade deal with India that could be worth up to ￡100billion, after talks with opposite number Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

       Referring to International Trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the Foreign Secretary tweeted: "Good call with @DrSJaishankar ahead of @annietrev visiting India this week for trade talks.

       "We discussed: Boosting trade between UK and India; Pipeline of new projects for British International Investment; Closer defence and security cooperation."

       Also today, Ms Trevelyan tweeted: "It was a pleasure to visit @HCI_London and meet High Commissioner Gaitri Kumar today before my visit to New Delhi this week. @PiyushGoyal We discussed our close relationship which we hope to grow through even stronger strategic and economic links."