Border blow could leave UK stuck in customs union, Eurosceptics fear

BRITAIN risks a “disorderly” Brexit after the EU rejected its proposals for avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland.

Michel Barnier, the EU’S chief Brexit negotiator, said there was still no agreement on 25 per cent of Brexit negotiations, meaning there was a “risk of failure”. It comes after The Daily Telegraph disclosed that Theresa May’s plan for avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland was subjected to a “forensic annihilation” at a meeting between senior EU officials and Olly Robbins, the UK’S lead Brexit negotiator.

The diplomatic impasse has cast serious doubt on Britain’s ability to leave the customs union, which is seen as essential if it is to strike free trade deals with non-eu nations after Brexit

The Telegraph understands that Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers, including Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, and Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, are all “very worried” at the prospect.

Mr Johnson said earlier this week that there would be “little point” in Brexit if the UK was unable to diverge from the EU and strike free trade deals.

Senior Eurosceptic Tory MPS are now urging the Government to “put no deal back on the table” and make clear it is serious about walking out of talks in a bid to force the EU to back down.

Mr Barnier yesterday confirmed that substantial parts of the withdrawal deal, including the Irish border issue, remained to be agreed by the autumn.

He said: “There are still difficulties, still a risk of failure. On 25 per cent of the text, we don’t have agreement. If there is no agreement, there is no orderly withdrawal; there is a disorderly withdrawal and there is no transition.” Asked if the UK could obtain a “single

market à la carte” deal, he replied: “No way”.

The EU has repeatedly said that Britain will not be able to “cherry pick” and enjoy the single market after Brexit.

Priti Patel, a Eurosceptic Tory MP, said: “This is the moment where the

British Government has to stand firm and ensure it is delivering on the referendum vote. We have got to put no deal back on the table.”

The developments put pressure on Mrs May ahead of a vote in the Commons next week on keeping the UK in the customs union just days after she was defeated on the issue in the Lords.

Senior pro-european Conservative MPS, including Nicky Morgan and Dominic Grieve, former Cabinet ministers, have joined forces with Labour MPS, including Yvette Cooper and Rachel Reeves, to demand the Government “includes as an objective in negotiations… the establishment of an effective customs union”. It will not be binding and Government whips indicated MPS would not have to attend.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “We are confident that in the coming months, if all sides work together productively, we can achieve a solution to the Ireland -Northern Ireland border that works for everyone involved.”

But Sir Ivan Rogers, Britain’s former ambassador to the EU, said hopes of finding a technological solution to the border issue were regarded in European capitals as “a fantasy island unicorn model”.