Cabinet deadlock over customs row
CRUNCH Cabinet talks ended in deadlock last night as warring Tories failed to thrash out the Government’s plan for a post-Brexit customs arrangement.
Theresa May summoned her top team to No10 in an attempt to hammer out a blueprint for avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic – the UK’s only land frontier with the EU.
May is trying to avoid making a final decision to stave off resignations, amid claims one or all of the “three Brexiteers” – David Davis, Boris Johnson and BY BEN GLAZE Liam Fox – could quit if she chooses a softer option.
The PM insisted there were “a number of ways” to find a solution to a new customs deal. Her spokesman admitted: “Ideas are evolving as we go along.”
May has vowed to quit the existing customs union and ruled out forming another.
The Government previously put forward two options – a customs partnership under which Britain would collect tariffs on behalf of the EU or a “maximum facilitation” arrangement using new technology to avoid the need for border checks. But the first plan was ridiculed and branded unworkable by Brexiteers while critics of the second said the technology does not exist.
May was said to have asked for “revised proposals” after the three-hour meeting ended in stalemate.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and Home Secretary Sajid Javid were said to have raised “significant” and “grave concerns” about the customs partnership idea.
A group of Leave-backing Tories claimed such a partnership would make it “impossible” to strike meaningful trade deals. Jacob Rees-Mogg, who leads the European Research Group of Brexiteers, denied their 30-page document was designed to pile pressure on the PM.
He said: “We’re not in the business of making threats. We’re supporting the Prime Minister and getting Brexit through.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that the Tories’ Brexit policy is “an utter shambles”.
Shadow Brexit Minister Paul Blomfield said: “The Tories appear more interested in squabbling among themselves than acting in the national interest.”