I won’t back down over EU customs union, vows May
THERESA May yesterday firmly rejected claims that her Government is set to cave in to Brussels by keeping Britain tied to a customs union with the EU.
She spoke out after claims her officials had drawn up a blueprint for a “customs partnership” that would leave Britain’s ties to the EU virtually unchanged when the Brexit transition period closes in 2020.
During a local election campaign visit to the West Midlands yesterday, Mrs May said: “Coming out of the customs union means that we will be free to have those deals – deals that suit the UK. But I also recognise the importance to businesses like this of being able to have as frictionless a border as possible into the EU.”
The remarks followed reports that senior Eurosceptic ministers were ready to warn her against watering down her Brexit plans at a Cabinet committee meeting tomorrow.
Mrs May faces a parliamentary vote over the issue on Thursday, when the Commons debates a motion urging her to negotiate a post-Brexit customs union.
Her senior aides were yesterday understood to be relaxed about the outcome of the vote, which will not be binding on the Government.
But ministers were thought to be more concerned about a Commons vote on the Government’s Trade Bill next month after pro-Brussels rebels tabled an amendment supporting customs union membership. Mrs May is understood to be coming under pressure from Tory Brexiteers to indicate she could quit if her “red line” promise that Britain will leave the customs union is overturned.
Asked if she could remain in No10 if she performed a customs union U-turn, Tory former Cabinet minister John Redwood said: “I don’t think that’s in question, because I hear she is not changing her mind.”