‘War Cabinet’ to debate customs issue options

THERESA May will face her full Cabinet again this week as tensions over the way forward on the Brexit customs issue continue to divide her senior colleagues.

On Thursday, the warring factions within her 11-strong Brexit sub-committee, dubbed the War Cabinet, will again meet to try to agree on one of two options before them: the customs arrangement or maximum facilitation.

The Prime Minister’s preferred option of the customs arrangement failed to gain majority support last week but is being tweaked and will be presented again at the meeting on Thursday.

Mrs May is hoping Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, who came out against the customs partnership option last week, will be persuaded to back a “refined and improved” version later this week.