Prime Minister calls for ‘revised proposals’ on post-brexit EU trade
Prime Minister Theresa May asked officials to draw up “revised proposals” after her “Brexit war cabinet” was unable to unite behind one of the two options on the table for the UK’S future trading relationship with the EU.
Both of the proposals have already been dismissed as “unworkable” by EU officials and Downing Street sources said ministers recognised that there were “challenges” with both of the proposed solutions, which were first put forward last summer.
Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins and his team are expected to come forward with amended proposals swiftly so that ministers can arrive at a preferred option, possibly as early as next week.
New Cabinet members Sajid Javid and Gavin Williamson both came out of the meeting against the “customs partnership” model, under which the UK would collect tariffs for the EU. Their opposition came after Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers signalled they regarded the partnership plan -branded“cretinous” by jacob Rees-mogg - as unacceptable, as it would deliver Brexit in name only.
The Home Secretary and Defence Secretary are understood to have joined senior Brexiteers in voicing a preference for so-called “maximum facilitation” - or “Max Fac” which would use new technology to avoid the need for border checks in Ireland.