May urged to reject EU deal on customs

Theresa May has been warned by a leading Conservative B rex i tee rt hat proposals for a “customs partnership” with the EU after Britain leaves the bloc are “not acceptable”.

Senior Tor y backbencher Bernard Jenkin said the plan would mean the UK acting as the EU’S “tax collector” and would fail the Prime Minister’s key tests for a deal with Brussels.

His warning came amid renewed tensions among senior ministers as members of Mrs May’ sB rexit“war cabinet” prepare for a crunch meeting on Wednesday to settle their position on the UK’S future customs relations with EU.

The customs partnership will be one option on the table along with the socalled“maxf ac ”– or maximum facilitation– solution, using technology to minimise the need for border checks.

Ahead of the meeting, the Prime Minister is reported to have been warned she could be ousted unless she sacks her chief civil service Brexit negotiator Oliver Robbins, seen as the leading exponent of the partnership option.

Government Chief Whip Julian Smith appeared to defend Mr Robbins, tweeting it was “deeply unfair” to criticise individual officials, and that the C ivil Service was providing “world- class” advice and support on Brexit.