May’s Cabinet still split down the middle on EU customs negotiations as deadline hits
The PM remains in dispute with her Cabinet in one of the biggest bust-ups over the EU exit plans
MINISTERS fear Theresa May will delay a key Brexit negotiation decision on customs yet again after a major Cabinet showdown today.
In one of the biggest government bust ups yet over the EU exit plan, the PM’s 11-strong Brexit committee of key figures meets this afternoon split down the middle on the key issue.
Mrs May and Chancellor Philip Hammond have “dug in” and will insist on pursuing a complex Customs Partnership with the EU, where the UK will collect tariffs for Brussels at its own borders.
The Sun has been told that the Downing Street duo are now convinced the plan is the only way to solve the dilemma over how to keep open the Irish border.
But ranged against them are Brexiteer heavyweights David Davis, Michael Gove, Boris Johnson and Liam Fox, who have branded the plan “cretinous” and unworkable.
They believe the PM’s preferred option will keep the UK shackled to Brussels’ rules, and prefer a technology-based Customs Arrangement that will keep delays at borders to a minimum.
Senior officials have set a deadline of today for the inner Cabinet to choose between the two options as time is running out to make the argument to the EU.
One minister told The Sun last night: “Theresa will not force a decision today if it looks like the whole thing is going to blow up on the eve of the council elections on Thursday.
“The problem is we cannot fudge this any longer.
“It’s getting really serious, because business are beginning to get worried and really need to know what we’re doing.”
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox turned up the pressure on Mrs May yesterday by refusing to publicly back her plan.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Quizzed on whether he was still open to both customs proposals, Dr Fox refused – instead saying: “There are a number of technical issues. I want to make sure we have got the freedom to carry out an independent trade policy, we cannot have our hands tied”.
Mr Davis told the House of Lords there would be 45 different issues to hammer out with Brussels before a trade deal can be forged.
And he said London was pushing to have these all negotiated at the same time rather than one after the other, as otherwise he would be “dead and buried” by the time the deal was struck.
Giving evidence to the Lords EU Select Committee, the Brexit Secretary insisted that the terms of the trade deal agreed with Brussels by October this year must contain more than just “airy fairy aims”.
But he conceded that agreement has not yet been reached on the structure of how trade talks will take place beyond a round of face to face talks in Brussels this week.
However he insisted “nothing keeping him awake at night” yet and he was confident it could be done in time.
Meanwhile he publicly admitted for the first time that Brussels had “pushed back” on Theresa May’s plans for a new Customs Partnership with the EU.
GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]