Boris Johnson has been warned to "tone down the nationalist rhetoric" as he approaches six months of intense negotiations on Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with Europe.

The PM will claim Brussels are trying to change the terms of the deal struck in October in a speech on Monday.

In a key speech on Monday he will say he is relaxed about the UK having less access to the single market looking for a deal in the vein of Canada or others - even if that means border checks.

Today Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said any suggestion the UK will have to follow European Union rules and laws after 2021 "just ain't happening".

Mr Raab has insisted that Britain would no longer be a rule-taker now Brexit had been delivered.

"We're not going to be aligning with EU rules, that's not on the negotiating table, it's not even an issue of red lines - it is not even in the negotiating room," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme.

(
Image:
REUTERS)

"We are entering into these negotiations with a spirit of goodwill.

"But we are just not doing that other stuff. The legislative alignment, it just ain't happening."

He added: “Well I think there's a bit of frustration that we've signed a deal, the Withdrawal Agreement, we've got a Political Declaration which sets out the mutual ambition jointly agreed for a Canada-style free trade agreement - when I was Brexit secretary that's what Michel Barnier said was on the table, it's what the EU had said we could have once we'd sorted out the Withdrawal Agreement.

"We obviously would expect commitments on both sides to be lived up to."

EU chiefs have repeatedly told the UK that access to the single market will involve following Brussels-made rules on standards and state subsidies, but the Prime Minister is expected to say that he is relaxed about less access in the future.

Brussels insist the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will keep jurisdiction over matters relating to any trade deal. 

But the government has hit back hard against any involvement of the ECJ - despite agreeing as part of the Withdrawal Agreement that the disputes panel should refer to the ECJ over matters of EU Law.

Critics say Mr Johnson and his ministers are simply trying to ramp up the rhetoric ahead of the negotiations.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell branded Number 10's approach to future EU relations "sabre-rattling".

Irish PM Leo Varadkar warned Mr Johnson : “Let’s not repeat the mistakes made in the past.

"Let’s not set such red lines, and let’s tone down the nationalistic rhetoric”.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr:  “I suppose on the issue of a court, what we'd have to agree, in my view, is some sort of mechanism to adjudicate disputes.

(
Image:
via REUTERS)

"It may not necessarily be the European Court of Justice, but there will have to be some sort of mechanism."

As the dust settles on Britain's formal EU withdrawal on Friday, attention has turned to the impending trade talks as the Prime Minister prepares to lay out his post-Brexit vision on Monday in a speech in London.

The Government is understood to be privately infuriated by what it perceives to be attempts by Brussels to change the terms of the deal struck in October as part of the Withdrawal Agreement.

A Government source told the PA news agency that the PM would be prepared to accept a Canada-style free trade deal - a checks-lite trade arrangement that would allow tariff-free trade for the majority of goods, but that would not include the UK's dominant services sector.

Analysis undertaken by the Treasury in 2018 predicted that Britain's economy would be 4.9% worse off under such a deal within 15 years, when compared with expected growth if it had remained in the EU.

If a Canada-esque deal cannot be signed-off, insiders say the Government is gearing up to walk away with what is dubbed an "Australia-style" arrangement - a re-branding of a no-deal Brexit.

It would see the UK revert to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, with additional mini-deals tacked-on to ensure travel arrangements, such as international flights, can continue.

A Government source explained: "There are only two likely outcomes in negotiation - a free trade deal like Canada or a looser arrangement like Australia - and we are happy to pursue both."

European leaders have already set out their own warnings to Mr Johnson over the upcoming talks.

French President Emmanuel Macron used an article in the Times to outline how the level of single market access granted to the UK would "depend on the degree to which the European Union's rules are accepted".

French President Emmanuel Macron is not a fan of Brexit (
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Another area of trouble could be Gibraltar, with Spain reportedly laying down a gauntlet to EU negotiators over the terms of any deal in the offing.

According to the Observer, the EU will back Spain over its territorial claims to the British overseas territory by giving Madrid the power to exclude its population of 34,000 people from any potential trade deal.

In his keynote speech in London on Monday, Mr Johnson is preparing to rule out relaxing rules on workers' rights, food hygiene standards and environmental protections.

He is also expected, according to Government sources, to confirm UK negotiators will pursue free trade agreements with the likes of the United States, Japan, Australia and New Zealand at the same time as dealing with Brussels.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that a trade deal is earmarked to be agreed with Japan by Christmas, followed by more agreements with Australia and New Zealand in mid 2021.