Corbyn’s customs union EU-turn could save us all a packet

Not for nothing is the PM known to Tory MPs as Teasy May. It’s been one long tease – beginning with “Brexit means Brexit”, which didn’t mean anything.

Friday’s big speech was billed as Theresa May’s definitive Brexit plan following Jeremy Corbyn’s EU-turn on a customs union.

But it turned out to be a few cement bags short of a concrete proposal.

A customs union remains the most viable way to keep the Irish border open and avoid sectarian violence.

New figures show how civil war is simmering, with 93 bombs defused in Northern Ireland in the last six months of 2017 – that’s nearly four a week.

Brexiteers crow about savings outside the customs union as EU tariffs are abolished.

A £120 pair of Nike Air trainers would cost £20.40 less, a pack of £10.70 king-size cigarettes would fall to £6.16, and a 250g pack of New Zealand butter would cost one pound not two. But exclusive research for Brexit Countdown by campaigners Best for Britain shows big hikes on EU goods – and 54 per cent of our imports come from Europe.

An £18,230 German VW would go up £1,786 and a bottle of French wine up by £1.76.

Spanish orange juice would be 31p more, Italian Nutella 12p extra a jar and a £5 box of Belgian chocolates would be £5.40.

Rejecting the Corbyn customs union plan may not be a price worth paying.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is losing her grip. Europe’s most powerful woman wants to serve a full term, but she’s under pressure to step down in two years. Given Theresa May’s troubles, they should plan a joint leaving party.

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