May fightback over ‘customs partnership’ as Clark warns of job losses

thousands of jobs would be at risk. Mr Clark’s message was backed by Amber Rudd, whose resignation as Home Secretary last week gave eurosceptics the advantage on the cabinet subcommittee on Brexit.

PRO-EU former ministers Nicky Morgan, Anna Soubry and Justine Greening also toured radio and TV stations to shore up the Prime Minister’s stance, with Ms Morgan hitting out at “sabre-rattling and leadership threats” by Brexiteers.

The British Chambers of Commerce and Confederation of British Industry also called on the government to stand by its current plans.

Mr Clark opened the door to extending a transition period on customs with the EU, admitting that technology and infrastructure needed for border checks may not be in place until 2023.

He cited the example of Toyota, which employs 3,500 people in the UK, warning there were fears over how the firm’s “just in time” manufacturing model would operate with customs checks.

But Mr Rees-mogg dismissed those concerns, telling ITV’S Peston on Sunday: “This Project Fear has been so thoroughly discredited that you would have thought it would have come to an end by now.”

He claimed a customs partnership would effectively keep the UK in the EU and said it would be “odd” if the Prime Minister breached her commitment to leave both the customs union and single market.