Tories in customs warning to PM

A POWERFUL group of Brexiteer Tory MPs are warning Theresa May they will vote against her EU deal if she tries to force through a customs partnership.

The Daily Express has learned a number of Tories on the European Research Group have sent personal letters to the PM ahead of today’s crunch meeting of the Brexit war cabinet.

Daniel Kawczynski, a leading member of the group, wrote: “I wish to put on record that I could not in good conscience vote for an agreement that would keep us in the customs union or partnership.”

The Shrewsbury MP said pursuing a union would leave Britain “in a worse position than before the referendum”.

Unacceptable

It is understood several other members of the ERG, which includes more than 50 Tories and is led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, sent Mrs May similar letters.

It followed Brexiteer Tory peer Lord Ridley being sent to Downing Street to warn any union would be “absolutely unacceptable”.

And it came as International Trade Secretary Liam Fox strongly hinted he will quit if Mrs May does not drop her proposal.

Dr Fox said the Government must not have “its hands tied”, adding: “I don’t think we can stay in the customs union for a number of reasons.”

Brexit Secretary David Davis has already told friends he is “on the brink of resigning” over the same issue.

Brexiteers fear a union would make it virtually impossible for Britain to have free trade agreements with the rest of the world.