Mr Johnson also backtracked on previous remarks about US access to the NHS, denying there were any plans afoot to “buy” the health service. Talking to LBC, Mr Johnson, who described US President Donald Trump’s attitude towards post-Brexit Britain as “bullish”, said UK negotiators needed to “take him at his word” on the subject of a trade deal. Stressing how keen the US President is for a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK, Mr Johnson said: “He’s very bullish.

“And he said, you know, dozens of times that I’ve seen him say how excited he is about the prospect of a closer relationship, trade-wise, free trade agreement with the UK.”

The US ambassador added: “He wants to get it done. Take him at his word, and start working on it day and night. It would be my suggestion.”

Mr Johnson also urged the UK to strike trade deals within the ‘Fives Eyes’ security alliance including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

He said: “Having a trade deal with the US and maybe the Five Eyes will strengthen your hand when you are negotiating with your, you know, your closest geographically trading partner, which is the EU.”

In the wake of Labour repeatedly telling voters in last month’s general election that the NHS would be a key part of negotiations under a Tory government, Mr Johnson insisted US President Donald Trump was not interested in the idea.

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Asked if the US wanted to buy the NHS, Mr Johnson told LBC: “No, no, and double no.

“The President said if you gave it to him on a silver platter he wouldn’t take it.

“We have got our own issues dealing with health care. It’s a major, major issue.”

His remarks contrasted with comments made during an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr last year, in which Mr Johnson said: “I think the entire economy, in a trade deal, all things that are traded would be on the table.”

Pressed about whether that meant healthcare too, he said: “I would think so.”

11.06am update: Watchdog BANS Hammond from talking about Brexit

Former Chancellor Philip Hammond has been banned from talking about his involvement in Brexit negotiations by a Government watchdog – in order to give his new with his new employer an unfair advantage.

Mr Hammond has been appointed to the board of Irish packaging company Ardagh Group, a position for which he is believed to be paid £125,000 annually.

Papers seen by The Telegraph highlight concerns of a risk Mr Hammond could offer his employer “insight into possible approaches to future trade agreements”.

10.55am update: Farage has say on “disrespectful” Meghan and Harry

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has waded into the row over the announcement by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that they are “stepping back”  as frontline Royals – by suggesting the pair had been “disrespectful” to the Queen.

Mr Farage, who is rebranding his political outfit at the Reform Party, also suggested US President Donald Trump was in agreement.

The long-standing Eurosceptic tweeted: “Trump is absolutely right. Harry and Meghan have been disrespectful to the Queen.”

10.45am update: Labour’s new leader will continue to ‘thwart Brexit and keep Britain shackled to EU’

The Labour Party will continue its attempt to thwart Brexit and keep the UK shackled to the EU, even with a new leader, a Brexit Party MEP has claimed.

The Labour Party kickstarted the process to replace Jeremy Corbyn this week, with six MPs throwing their hat in the ring in a bid to reignite the party after its worst election defeat since 1935.

But, Brexit Party MEP Rupert Lowe has warned that whoever wins the leadership contest will still persist in ignoring the will of the British people – by trying to thwart Brexit.

Mr Lowe also said he doubts Labour will ever move on from Brexit, and even suggested the party will “campaign to keep us shackled to Brussels” in the future.

10.38am update: Panicking EU threatens to make UK pay if fishing access is blocked after Brexit

Britain could find itself embroiled in another ‘cod war’ after Brexit if it expels foreign boats from its waters, the European Union has warned.

Fishing communities the length and breadth of the UK have repeatedly called for European trawlers to be kicked out after the UK leaves the bloc while fishermen on the continent have threatened to retaliate with a blockade of ports. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, whose country holds the rotating six-month presidency of the EU, made clear the team of negotiators who will kick off talks with Britain after January 31 will push for continued access.

Plenkovic said: “We want to avoid any fisheries skirmishes in the Atlantic. 

“We have seen them before, we don’t want to see them again.”

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