PM orders Davis to find third way on customs deal
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a new ‘customs partnership’ with the EU looked set to be sidelined last night after Theresa May asked David Davis to find an alternative.
The Brexit Secretary is to lead a new Cabinet group designed to break the deadlock over future customs arrangements with the EU.
He will work with Business Secretary Greg Clark and Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley to develop an alternative to the customs partnership idea, which is opposed by Eurosceptics.
The trio will develop the Government’s alternative plan – known as ‘maximum facilitation’ – which focuses on using technology to streamline customs checks. The decision follows talks between the Prime Minister, Mr Davis and other senior ministers in Downing Street yesterday.
Another group, involving Environment Secretary Michael Gove, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and Mrs May’s deputy, David Lidington, has been asked to see if it is possible to revive the customs partnership idea in a way that would not threaten Britain’s ability to develop an independent trade policy.
While both options remain alive, insiders believe the decision to appoint Mr Davis to lead work on finding an alternative suggests support for the customs partnership idea is slipping away.
The two groups will provide an update to a meeting of Mrs May’s Brexit ‘war cabinet’ on Tuesday, although a final decision could be postponed until later this month.
The customs partnership had been Mrs May’s preferred option. But critics claimed it could lead to the UK remaining in the EU customs union in all but name.
A senior Government source said last night that Mrs May was now not wedded to either option and was ‘interested in what works’. The customs part- nership plan would involve the UK continuing to collect EU import tariffs at the border and passing them to the EU. Regulations would also have to be aligned to a significant extent.
But critics fear it would make it almost impossible for the UK to strike new trade deals. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson branded the proposal ‘crazy’ this week, saying in a Daily Mail interview that it amounted to ‘not taking back of your trade policy, not taking back control of your laws, not taking back control of your borders’. The Brexit ‘war
‘Not wedded to either option’
cabinet’ blocked the customs partnership at a crunch meeting last week. But some senior figures, including Mr Clark, have continued to push it.
The central role for Mr Davis reflects fears in Government that he could quit if the customs partnership idea is pushed through.
The Government was yesterday accused of delaying vital Brexit legislation after Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom confirmed the EU Withdrawal Bill would not be brought back to the Commons in the next fortnight. Ministers face a challenge in overturning 14 amendments imposed by pro-Remain peers.
Mrs May has extended her party’s lead over Jeremy Corbyn to five points, according to a poll. The Tories are up one point to 43 per cent, while Labour remains on 38 per cent, the YouGov analysis for the Times found. It is the fourth poll in a row showing a four or five-point Tory lead.
About 39 per cent would choose Mrs May as best prime minister, up two points, while 25 per cent pick Mr Corbyn, down two points.