Brexiteers aim to kill Chequers plan
Prison staff are now “inured” to conditions that are unacceptable in 21st century Britain, a watchdog has warned.
Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke said drugs and violence remain rife across much of the estate. TORY EUROSCEPTICS have hit back at Theresa May by tabling amendments to a key Brexit Bill which could kill off her Chequers plan for future relations with the EU.
The four amendments to the crucial Customs Bill were put down a day before today’s publication of a White Paper setting out the Prime Minister’s plans, which infuriated Leavers and prompted the resignation of Cabinet ministers Boris Johnson and David Davis. A rebellion by Eurosceptic backbenchers could wipe out Mrs May’s majority when the Bill returns to the Commons on Monday, in what would be the first significant test of strength for her Brexit critics.
The PM insisted that the deal she agreed with her Cabinet at Chequers last week “delivers on the vote that people gave on Brexit” in the 2016 referendum. But prominent Brexiteer Jacob ReesMogg, who chairs the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Tories, described it as a “breakdown in trust” and said Mrs May must now U-turn or be forced to rely on Labour votes to get her legislation through Parliament. One of the rebel amendments demands that the UK should scrap an offer – contained in the Chequers plan – to collect taxes and duties on behalf of the EU, unless the remaining 27 member states pledge to do the same for Britain. A second – reportedly backed by the Democratic Unionist Party – would force the Government to commit itself in law not to allow a customs border down the Irish Sea. And others would require the UK to have a separate VAT regime from the EU and force the Prime Minister to table primary legislation if she wishes to keep Britain in the customs union.