Senior ministers met at Number 10 this afternoon to thrash out what kind of future relationship Britain should seek with the European Union in the next round of negotiations.

The Prime Minister’s inner circle is reportedly deeply divided over whether to pursue a hard or soft Brexit.

And according to reports, “people lived up to their stereotypes” during today’s talks, which focussed on Northern Ireland and immigration.

The group is set to meet again tomorrow to discuss a future UK/EU trade deal.

Theresa May's full cabinet in Downing Street GETTY

11 senior members of Theresa May's cabinet met today to thrash out a post-Brexit vision for the UK

...The sub committee that meets in order to help make these decisions is more united than they think

Amber Rudd

The stalemate comes amid reports of a widening rift inside the Government over what approach to take.

The ‘war cabinet’ - formally the cabinet Brexit subcommittee - is made up of 11 ministers, seven of which backed Remain during the EU referendum.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has been outspoken in his desire to see the UK remain as close as possible to the European Union after Brexit.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, the Chancellor said he wanted to see just “very modest” changes in the current trading arrangement.

Theresa May's cabinet in Number 10 GETTY

The PM's cabinet is reportedly split over whether to pursue a soft or hard Brexit

Philip Hammond leaving the Brexit meeting today GETTY

Philip Hammond leaving the Brexit 'war cabinet' meeting today

But several senior ministers, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, are gunning for a clean break from Brussels.

However Home Secretary Amber Rudd sought to play down any divide over Brexit, and dismissed reports of a coup to unseat Mrs May and replace her with a Brexiteer.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, she said: “I have a surprise for the Brexiteers, which is the sub committee that meets in order to help make these decisions is more united than they think.

“We meet in the committee. We meet privately for discussions. I think that we will arrive at something which suits us all.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson GETTY

Boris Johnson is one of the four Leave-backing senior ministers in the Brexit 'war cabinet'

“There will be choices to be made within that but we all want the same thing which is to arrive at a deal which works for the UK.”

News from today’s Brexit subcommittee meeting has been reported by HuffPost UK, which quotes a well-placed Cabinet source as described the meeting as “robust”.

The source also said: “People lived up to their stereotypes.”

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