May’s customs plan attacked
THERESA MAY’S plans for a customs partnership are “bureaucratic, unwieldy and impractical”, a Eurosceptic Cabinet minister has warned as Brexiteers are increasingly confident they have killed off the plans ahead of a crunch Chequers summit.
In her first newspaper interview on Brexit, Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the Commons, became the third Cabinet minister to criticise the plans publicly as she warns they will lead to “more red tape”. Another Eurosceptic Cabinet minister told this newspaper that Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, and Liam Fox, the Trade Secretary, have taken plans for the customs partnership, which would involve Britain collecting tariffs on behalf of Brussels, “to the abattoir”.
The Prime Minister will travel to a European Council meeting later this week without having published an expected paper on the UK’S future relationship with the EU, as a decision is yet to be made. She will hold a session of her Cabinet at Chequers next month.
‘I’m just amazed at the way in which the Prime Minister has been so resilient in getting through all the criticism’
Andrea Leadsom’s enthusiasm for Brexit is unbridled. While the Leader of the Commons says she understands those who don’t want to leave the European Union, she is “astonished” they cannot see the “vast” opportunities Brexit presents.
With the EU Withdrawal Bill on the brink of gaining Royal Assent after more than 272 hours of gruelling debate in the Commons and the Lords, Mrs Leadsom is buoyed by the fact that the statute books finally reflect that Britain is leaving the EU. “A lot of people write to me saying, ‘are we actually leaving?’. As of today, they can be completely reassured.”
In her first interview about Brexit, Mrs Leadsom tells The Daily Telegraph: “In leaving the EU, we will be able to take back sovereign control of our money and our laws and our borders, and be able to do free trade deals with all of the Commonwealth, all of the developing economies that are growing so fast.
“I do find it astonishing that some people can’t see that. I absolutely understand a natural reluctance to change, but the opportunities for the UK are vast. I totally understand and respect people who take the opposite view to me – there needs to be safety in numbers, we need to stick together. But, in my opinion, the opportunities far outweigh those risks. I feel entirely optimistic about the future.”
The passing of the Bill also represents a remarkable political renaissance for Mrs Leadsom herself. Two years ago she was down to the final two of the Conservative leadership contest against Theresa May. But before the campaigning had even begun, she gave an interview in which she appeared to suggest she was better placed to become the next prime minister because she had children. The backlash was swift and, within 48 hours, a “shattered” Mrs Leadsom made a personal apology to Mrs May and dropped out of the leadership contest.
Many assumed that Mrs Leadsom’s political career was over, but her critics underestimated her resilience. Mrs May brought her back into the fold as Environment Secretary, before moving her on to become Leader of the Commons. There she has found renewed purpose in helping guide Brexit through Parliament and tackling the Westminster sexual harassment scandal.
“It’s the greatest privilege and pleasure to be in the engine room of Parliament at the moment, to be able to be overseeing our entire legislative programme, which is very heavy with Brexit legislation,” she said.
“I shall now have the enormous task of getting through all of the secondary legislation that comes from the EU Withdrawal Bill. It is something that gets me up enthusiastically every day.”
For some of Mrs Leadsom’s proeuropean Cabinet colleagues, the prospect of a no-deal Brexit is anathema and to be avoided at all costs. Sources claimed yesterday that more than 50 Conservative MPS were willing to try and block such an outcome. But for Mrs Leadsom, who sits on a committee that is looking at “day one” readiness for Brexit, it is a “very important negotiating point”. She discloses that preparations for “no deal” are in fact “well advanced”.
“What’s really important is we intend to get a good arrangement with the EU – that is our absolute goal,” she says. “But, at the same time, for a credible negotiation we have always taken the view that we must be prepared as a Government for all eventualities. While no deal is not our preference, it is a very important negotiating point.”
The next Brexit crunch point for the Cabinet is set for next month, when the Prime Minister will take her ministers to her countryside retreat in Chequers to thrash out plans for Britain’s future relationship with the EU. Mrs Leadsom shares the concerns of her Eurosceptic colleagues about a customs partnership with the EU, one of two options being considered by the Prime Minister. “The customs partnership looks quite bureaucratic and unwieldy. It has implications for needing to keep alignment with a lot of EU product regulations and so on,” she says. “That does seem to lend itself to a more technology-driven solution than one where you’re seeking to pick up tariffs on third parties, which can get complicated. The problem with complications, particularly for businesses, is that they are not keen on more bureaucracy, more red tape. That is potentially a less attractive option for businesses themselves.”
In her role as Leader of the Commons, Mrs Leadsom has found herself repeatedly clashing with John Bercow, the Speaker. He was recently overheard calling her a “stupid woman” after a row over the timing of a Government announcement.
She chooses far more diplomatic language: “He will make his own decision on when the right time is for him to go. I do try as much as possible to make sure all the relationships in Parliament are kept on an even keel. My ambition in setting up the independent complaints procedure is to make sure everyone in this place is treated with dignity and respect.”
Despite her previous rivalry with the Prime Minister, she is unequivocal in her support. “I’m just amazed at the way in which she has been so resilient in getting through all the criticism and accusations,” she said. “Each time we reach a critical point, she delivers. I’m fully supportive of her determination to secure a successful Brexit.”