‘Exit customs union... or lose poll’

THE Conservatives will lose the next election if they delay Britain’s exit from the customs union, Theresa May was warned last night.

Whitehall sources confirmed that ministers at this week’s Brexit ‘war cabinet’ were warned the UK could have to stay in the EU’s customs union for another ‘four or five years’ while a new customs system is implemented.

One source said officials made it clear to ministers that the technology needed to operate either of the Government’s options was not ready. ‘If you set aside the political problems with both options, you are looking at four or five years until either could be workable,’ said the source.

‘In civil service terms those are middle distance targets – the truth is no one really knows how long it might take.’

The revelation raised the prospect of Britain staying in the customs union until 2023.

Jacob Rees-Mogg last night urged ministers to get a grip and warned the Conservatives would face a backlash from voters if they failed to make a clean break with Brussels before the next election, due in 2022.

The prominent Eurosceptic and Tory MP said: ‘Government policy is to leave the customs union after the transition and it is the job of officials to deliver on that.

‘People won’t accept five more years in the customs union – it would be a good way of losing the next election.’