PM’s dilemma as war rages

Sir, – The factional fight within the Tory Party over Brexit is coming to a head.

The hard Brexit headbangers have threatened a leadership challenge against Theresa May and a withdrawal of support by the 10 Democratic Unionist Party MPs if she retreats from her disavowal of customs union membership. Now the Pro-EU faction of the Tories is suggesting the option of a second referendum should be opened up.

The prime minister’s stated position is for a “comprehensive system of mutual recognition” whereby the UK and EU keep their regulations equivalent to one another to facilitate trade. This is vital in preventing the reintroduction of a “hard border” between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state.

Having ruled out a customs union, May proposes two means for implementing mutual recognition – a “customs partnership” involving the UK collecting the EU’s tariffs on goods coming from other countries on its behalf, or minimising checks using technology and a “trusted trader scheme”.

Both options have already been rejected by the Eurocrats. Brussels is making clear that Britain will get a beggars’ Brexit, on terms dictated by Germany and France.

The Tories simply can’t tell the truth about Brexit. The EU countries are the UK’s biggest trading partners. Relinquishing EU membership will greatly increase trading costs with these countries, with no compensatory economic outcomes in sight. Of course, these economic consequences may be offset by political advantages stemming from Brexit, but the Tories have not identified, concretely, any of the latter.

For now, May clings to power because all sides in her party mistrust her equally, since no one these days can get to lead the Tories if that person is perceived to be esteemed and trusted just a little bit more by another of the party’s warring factions. Alan Hinnrichs. Gillespie Terrace, Dundee.