the trade secretary liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit.nductors tomorrow, the rmt leader denies accusations the rmt leader denies accusations the union is using the dispute to ta ke the union is using the dispute to take on the government. more on that story now. the general secretary of the rmt union has dismissed those claims it is organising strikes as part of a conspiracy to bring down the government. he distanced himself from recorded remarks suggesting trade unions were coordinating industrial action to oust the conservatives. here is our business correspondent. some reports suggest that trade unions are trying to bring down the government. the rmt national president was pretty clear on the subject. we are talking about the left trying to bring the government down and how the national shop stewards network and the rmt, other organisations are coordinated to bring the government down. shock horror, guess what, we bloody are! but his rmt colleague mick cash dismissed the idea. we are not looking at conspiracies to bring down the govern

we know it would be a disaster of british business if we do not remain part of the customs union. as the leader of the house himself said in february, everything we take for granted, trade without customs checks, paperwork at national frontier would all be up in the air. it is massive what is at risk. on this side we agree with him, we couldn't agree with him more. can he put it beyond doubt right now today, tell us does the government want the uk to stay in the customs union? >> the honorable lady and i both argued passionately for the course of the referendum. what separates us now is i am part of a conservative government which is working together to respect the democratic purpose. [shouting] >> the prosperity and security of the united kingdom from those negotiations whereas the honorable lady even just two months ago was telling us she wanted to go back to the british people in some way, needs to decide whether she exits the democratic verdict or not. >> of course we accept the democratic decision. of course we do. the difference between our side of the house and that side is

was not part of the customs union they would have to be custom checks at the border. and he said, for anyone to pretend otherwise, would be, and i quote, flying in the face of reality. so, can he confirm that this remains the position and if that is right, he really must, today, make it clear that this is something that the government is determined to avoid. >> the prime minister and the secretary have repeatedly made it clear that we, as indeed as the irish government, want to see the very long-standing common travel arrangements and the free trade arrangements across the irish border continue. we are actively engaged in talking both to the northern ireland and to the government of the republic of ireland about those matters that is goodwill on all those sites that tries to reach the people that works north and south of the border. >> the leader of the mouse has made the familiar arguments that he can't give answers that is all to be resolved through negotiations, brex it means breakfast, and it means brexit. when he was asked about the customs union in september bec

trade secretary liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit. ahead of another strike by southern rail conductors tomorrow, rmt leader mick cash, denies accusations his union is using the dispute to take on the government. and great britain's heroes of rio could be in for more success at tonight's bbc sports personality of the year awards, with the winner chosen by the public. and in half an hour, christian fraser presents a special programme looking at the uk's journey towards brexit. the sports stars are starting to arrive. we will find outjust before nine o'clock who has been named the sports personality of the year. and in half an hour, christian fraser presents a special programme looking at the uk's journey towards brexit. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. the russian ambassador to the united nations say they will veto a united nations say they will veto a united nations proposal to put in monitors to check the situation in aleppo. there are reports that buses sent to rescue people from two besieged towns in the north of syria have be

was not part of the customs union they would have to be custom checks at the border. and he said, for anyone to pretend otherwise, would be, and i quote, flying in the face of reality. so, can he confirm that this remains the position and if that is right, he really must, today, make it clear that this is something that the government is determined to avoid. >> the prime minister and the secretary have repeatedly made it clear that we, as indeed as the irish government, want to see the very long-standing common travel arrangements and the free trade arrangements across the irish border continue. we are actively engaged in talking both to the northern ireland and to the government of the republic of ireland about those matters that is goodwill on all those sites that tries to reach the people that works north and south of the border. >> the leader of the mouse has made the familiar arguments that he can't give answers that is all to be resolved through negotiations, brex it means breakfast, and it means brexit. when he was asked about the customs union in september bec

we are also members of the eu's customs union, the biggest in the world.t will brexit bring? this morning, the trade secretary suggested we could remain partial members of the customs union. we want to look at all the different things. i hear people talking about hard brexit and soft brexit as if it is a boiled egg we are talking about. it is a little more complex. turkey is in part of the customs union but not other parts. we need to look at the cost. the customs union includes all 28 eu nations at but also turkey, monaco, san marino and andorra. all can trade freely with each other. but they must impose the same tariffs on goods from nations outside the customs union. they are also barred from doing bilateral trade deals that other countries. that is why the trade secretary would like a half way house, but there will be trade—offs. the former chancellor, now free to speak without a government script urged ministers to be careful. we should do this on the basis of a hard—headed assessment on what is in our national and economic interests. yes, it is true

the international trade secretary says britain could remain part of the customs union after leaving therike on southern rail tomorrow, rmt leader mick cash denies accusations that his union is using the dispute to take on the government. thick fog is affecting many parts of the uk, leading to travel disruption for a second day, with airports warning of more cancellations and delays to flights. the met office has now lifted their severe weather warning for southern england and south wales, but warn they may need to issue another warning tonight. heathrow advise travellers to check flights before setting off. it's been an incredible twelve months for home—grown sporting success and to reflect that, an unprecedented i6 contenders have been shortlisted for sports personality of the year 2016. the award will be decided by a public vote this evening. i would not like to be picking the winner out of that amazing list of contenders. an incredible evening is lined up. the sports stars will be arriving in the next few hours. 16 individuals have been put forward are nominated. the evening is full

liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit. ors tomorrow, the rmt leader dismisses claims his union is using the dispute to take on the government. the general secretary of the rmt transport union mick cash has dismissed claims that it's organising strikes as part of a conspiracy to bring down the government. he distanced himself from reported remarks by the rmt‘s president, sean hoyle, suggesting trade unions were coordinating industrial action to oust the conservatives. here's our business correspondent, joe lynam. some media reports suggest that trade unions are trying to bring down the gutman. the rmt national president was pretty clear on the subject. they are talking about the left trying to bring down the government. there was the national shop stewards network. 0ther left—wing organisations are coordinating to bring the government down. guess what? we are. mick cash dismissed the idea. when not about looking at conspiracies to bring down the government. 0ur looking at conspiracies to bring down the government. our member

we might only remain in the customs union.ades with eu on world trade organisation terms. the former chancellor, now free to speak without a government script urged ministers to be careful. yes, it is true that the grass may be greener outside of those arrangements, and we may be able to conduct new free trade deals with australia and the united states and so on, but that should not come at a price of giving up the existing free trade arrangements we have with germany and france. you cannot say we are a beacon of free trade in the world and then the main thing we can achieve is a huge act of protectionism, the biggest in british history. popping up again to offer his brexit services, nigel farage, friend of president—elect donald trump, the former ukip leader told the bbc he wanted to be a bridge between the new trade department and the new us administration. number 10 said there was no job vacancy. six months on after the vote to leave the european union, everyone in government agrees that brexit will happen but if ministers

trade secretary liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit. ahead of another strike by southern rail conductors tomorrow, rmt leader mick cash denies accusations his union is using the dispute to take on the government. and great britain's heroes of rio could be in for more success at tonight's bbc sports personality of the year awards, with the winner chosen by the public. i hear only red carpet we are in the next few hours, we will find out who has been cloned the sports personality of the year. and in half an hour here on bbc news, discover how the latest robotic technology could improve healthcare in this week's edition of click. good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. there are reports that buses sent to rescue people from two besieged towns in the north of syria have been set alight and attacked. the buses were on their way to the towns of foah and kefraya which are surrounded by rebel forces. in a deal between the government and rebels, in exchange for the evacuation of people from those villages, thousands are due to be escorted out of

there would be no ta riffs customs union. tariffs and barriers in a customs deal between me and you, but if i wa nt to deal between me and you, but if i want to deal with bob, it has to have the same conditions. you can't ta ke have the same conditions. you can't take control of your trade policy because you have to have the same trade policy with any country in the world. we could have this great benefit and trade freely, but i would have to stick with your trade deals with america or india, for example. it is difficult to liam fox to support the customs union as we know it now, but the government is arguing in some quarters that you could renegotiate the customs union so that we could somehow have all of the goodies but maybe have some freedom around the edges, although they haven't spelt out how that would be possible. a deal has been reached between the syrian government and opposition fighters resume the evacuation people from east aleppo in return for the evacuation of people from two villages within the rebel—held idlib

including staying in the customs union?nd in a non—confrontational way, if we stay inside the customs union, we cannot do the type of deals that your department was set up to create, and therefore there is no need for liam fox. there would be limitations in terms of tariff setting, which would limit what kind of deals you can do. that is quite correct. the customs union includes all 28 eu nations and turkey, monaco, san marino and andorra. all can trade freely but they must impose the same tariffs. they are also barred from doing bilateral trade deals with other countries. now only a back—seat driver to cabinet discussions, george osborne was asked what type of trade deal should be done. we should have a hard headed assessment of what is in our national interest. it is true that the grass may be green outside of those arrangements and we may be able to conduct new free—trade deals with australia, the united states and so on, but that shouldn't come at a price of giving up shouldn't come at a price of giving up the existing

on the customs union, asi impediments? binary decision. there are a number of disparate —— different aspects to the customs union, a number of different relationships that already has the word exist. it is more complex than silly saying, are you in orare you complex than silly saying, are you in or are you out. the way i approach this and the way the government had been approaching this and other issues is to say, what are the outcomes we want to achieve, and therefore how do you reach those outcomes? rather than assuming only one means to an end or only one process to an end. as regards the issue of the investment, the very welcome investment in sunderland, that was made by nissan, we have been clear we want to get the best possible dealfor been clear we want to get the best possible deal for trading with and operating within the single european market. that is what i have been saying publicly, it is what we have been sent to companies, and also that we want to ensure the competitiveness of the british economy. i think ni

and they're outside the customs union but they have customs arrangements. the four i had in mind and as i say, they're not comprehensive but sort of four staging if you like a spectrum or inside the customs union a partially inside turkish if you like, outside but with a free trade agreement and a customs arrangement as happened in some parts of the worlds and completely outside. that's the sort of spectrum, if you like. >> so that as i understand it, that list doesn't include trying to be in the customs union for certain sectors. >> that's what i said. there are others, as well. they're not on a spectrum. i had in my mind a spectrum of four. >> and are you looking at all whether northern island might remain within the customs union in order to avoid a hard border? >> no, that's not one of the options we've been looking at so far anyway. what we are determined about i'm sure he'll raise it with me at some point, the -- we are determined to maintain that as an open border. but as an example, an example of how that might be done, one might, the committee migh

trade secretary liam fox is the uk could remain a member of the you're customs union after brexit. sations his union is using the dispute to take on the government.

the trade secretary liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit.eader of the rmt has denied that the union is using the dispute with southern rail to take on the government. thousands of commuters have been affected by the strike action over who should control train doors. andy murray wins sports personality of the year for a record third time. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are martin lipton, deputy head of sport at the sun and martin bentham, home affairs editor at the london evening standard. we will go through the review in a moment. let's look at the front pages. the daily telegraph claims that royal mail staff, as well as rail and airport workers, may strike over christmas, leaving theresa may facing pressure over "industrial chaos." the paper also notes andy murray's third sports personality victory. the guardian also celebrates murray's win, but focuses on claims that the justice secretary had prior warning ahead of the riot at hmp birmingham on friday. the metro leads with f

remaining a party to the european economic area agreement, and that it should also stay in the customs unionons as our... i accept that there is a mandate in england and wales to take the uk out of the eu, however i do not accept there is a mandate to take any part of the uk ad of the single market. it would make no economic sense whatsoever for the uk to leave the single market, and it would be entirely democratically justifiable for the uk to remain within it. so the scottish treatment will continue to argue and build common cause with others of like mind for continued uk membership of the single market. however, albeit reluctantly, i acce pt however, albeit reluctantly, i accept that as things stand, given the rhetoric of the conservative government, at this stage that seems an unlikely outcome. we can hear live now from nicola sturgeon. she is answering questions in edinburgh. asl in edinburgh. as i said on the 24th ofjune, it has changed in that respect... michael. isn't it slightly unrealistic to expect theresa may to go along to the negotiations and say, this is what the uk once. and

of this and it does the nation seek precedents for all others related to the market and the customer's union in addition to the iraqi government considered to be leaving the european union? >> that's a brilliant question. i don't the see these things is fatal between two issues. i think there's a clear message on the boat on the 23rd that people wanted to take control of immigration to the eu but whether it then countries outside the european union,what we also want to ensure is we get the boss best possible deal incorporating within and trading with the european market . that we are able to continue on matters that are on crime issues and all these issues will be part of the negotiations that will take place. >> prime minister, donnelly with regards to northern ireland, there's obviously a very selective relationship between united kingdom and northern ireland. i think is this the government's position that special relationships should continue? >> we don't want to return to the parliament, the common travel area which covers the sequel has been in place since 1923 and continues to be in pl

between those who want what is called a hard brexit, fully out of the single market, out of the customs unionle to sign trade deals around the world itself, with no reference to the european union, and those that want a softer brexit. still having preferential access to the single market, possibly still in the customs union. that is tension on one side. on the european side, the 27 other member states, there are tensions between those who want to ensure that britain doesn't get a better deal by coming out of the european union, politically unpalatable as that is, but also britain is the second largest economy in europe. they don't want to set up trade barriers such that the european economy itself suffers by losing the british market. and, of course, london, the city, is one of the global leading financial centres. europe needs the city to fund its own businesses. indeed it does. talking of financials, let's bring up the market board because i want to talk about that. we can bring it up because i want to talk about the ftse and the pound. this is how they ended as of 21st of december. everyon

tensions between those who want what is cold a hard brexit, fully out of the single market and the customs uniongn trade deals around the world itself, with no reference to the european union. and those that want a softer brexit, still having preferential access to the single market, possibly still in the single market, possibly still in the customs union. that is tension on one side. on the european side, the 27 other member states, there are tensions between those who want to ensure britain does not get a better deal by going out of the european union, politically unpalatable as that is, and britain is the second largest economy in europe. they do not want to set up trade barriers so the european economy suffers by losing the british market. london, one of the leading globalfinancial british market. london, one of the leading global financial centres and europe needs the city to front some businesses. indeed. let's bring up the board. i wa nt to indeed. let's bring up the board. i want to talk about the ftse and the pound. this is how they have ended as of december 20. the ftse nearly 13% and

trade secretary liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit. mt leader mick cash, denies accusations his union is using the dispute to take on the government. and great britain's heroes of rio could be in for more success at tonight's bbc sports personality of the year awards, with the winner chosen by the public. and in half an hour, christian fraser presents a special programme looking at the uk's journey towards brexit. the sports stars are starting to arrive. we

trade secretary liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit. rrow, rmt leader mick cash denies accusations his union is using the dispute to take on the government. and great britain's heroes of rio could be in for more success at tonight's bbc sports personality of the year awards, with the winner chosen by the public. i hear only red carpet we are in the next few hours, we will find

the trade secretary, liam fox, says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexiter of the rmt has denied that the union is using the dispute with southern rail to take on the government. thousands of commuters have been affected by the strike action over who should control train doors. personalities across the sporting world are celebrating this year's sports personality of the year tonight, with a record 16 contenders being shortlisted for the final award. now on bbc news, sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm james pearce. 0ur headlines this evening: crisis? what crisis? manchester city beat arsenal to go second in the premier league. yet another good day for india against england. the tourists‘ chances of winning the fifth test are fast receding. and an upset in the european champions cup as scarlets hold on to secure a famous victory over toulon. good evening. news of a very important victory for manchester city in the premier league. they came from behind to beat arsenal 2—1 at the etihad stadium, and are now seven points behind the leaders, chelsea.

to come out of the customs union, and to be very detached and remote from the eu.ave been indications that the government is heading for a hard brexit. mark: more red white and blue. have been different versions and i except that. aboutcent discussions paying for single market access or transition arrangements suggests a more thoughtful approach. got,roblem we have all what it is actually trying to achieve, all we can do is interpret the signs and signals. that is not the way to start. mark: what satisfies you in terms of revealing the plan? it ultimately means the prime minister has revealed her intentions. what satisfies your level of revelation when it comes to that? >> people say they need to know what the position is on the customs union and what the position is on transitional arrangements. it is important the parliamentary have enough information to do their jobs. not much point in parliamentary scrutiny. the office of budget will need toy forecast economically what the future holds. there needs to be enough detail to let us know what is the direction of tra

>> she said that about customs union, not not about single markets. >> although, this is one of those things where we have to see what develops. one of the difficulties, as you will appreciate, as much of as me is that we are in the early stage of negotiation where the stone stands with a very firm one. it's quite hard to read how will develop beyond here, but that is part of it. broadly speaking we are speaking to the overarching aim, maximum possible access, services goods and so on. >> you'll be aware from the jnc that the devol stations have all said they want access to the single market. >> the thing here is to distinguish. [inaudible] the thing to bear in mind is people often discuss membership but what matters is to sell services in other parts of europe and for european manufacturers and providers, i'm a big believer in free-trade. >> mr. carmichael's asked you about paying into the eu bucket for exchange for access to the market. is there anything you would be prepared to consider? >> as i said to him, leaving something open is not to say that you're going to do it. i have to

the trade secretary, liam fox, says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexitonductors tomorrow, the rmt leader, mick cash, denies accusations his union is using the dispute to take on the government. jamie vardy and gareth bale are among the stars who could be named this year's sports personality

>> our membership of the customs union said it is not a pioneer option there are possibilities possibly more if we are still assessing them. so what are those possibilities? >> but first look countries that inside the union and countries like turkey which as an arrangement with the economy that allows very limited free-trade. you have a circumstance like norway inside the single market outside the customs union and switzerland who was outside the single market but our bilateral with the trade deals outside the customs union but customs arrangements. they are not comprehensive but are in that spectrum. >> the downside with a free-trade agreement with that customs arrangements, that is the spectrum. it doesn't include for the certain sectors. is a lot to decide. and are you looking in northern ireland? >> no. that is not one of the options we are looking insofar. in ebs some point but we are determined to maintain that open border but an example of how that might be dead the committee may look at the border where you have a single market through with the very open border with david titula

the trade secretary liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit.southern rail conductors tomorrow, the rmt leader, mick cash, dismisses claims his union is using the dispute to take on the government. great britain's real heroes could be infor great britain's real heroes could be in for more

[laughter] >> for no big picture, that's right. >> are you able to turn -- the custom union. more details thicks about the union. are you able to tell us any other points of content that you would expect to be in the plan. >> not to this day. i just say content first and that decision requires to know what the policy aims are in detail. we know they are now but then to say, we will release that information be hazardous or not and if they are not hazardous then we will release it. >> jonathan. can we just take the legislation that you bring forward? can you commit today that this community at large -- >> no, i can't. what i'm -- it is to try and give parliaments what we are trying to do but we have a timetable. timetable issue here. it's in the queen's speech for the next session. we will need to get that out or get that out of the way or get it done. the reason i say that is because bare in mind what's it's going to do. it will take them and pretty much untouched into brit asia law but after that, there will be consequential legislation and therefore time to go through before

so all of those critical questions — will we be in the single market, will we be in the customs union the eu, what will happen to eu nationals living here, all of those key questions which mps and others want answers to ourjust getting stonewalled at the moment on the basis that she is not going to give a running commentary and she doesn't want to compromise her negotiating position. and i suspect, on the brexit front, that maybe what we get today. however, she will also be pressed about social care, and there we may get more information. theresa may signalled at prime minister's questions that she does wa nt to minister's questions that she does want to do something about the crisis in social care. she said her government would not duck it. it will be interested to see whether the mps get any details about what she's thinking of. norman, thank you. let's take you back to berlin. there are aerial pictures showing a very quiet scene at that german market where the truck was driven with such devastating effect. 12 people killed, 48 injured. 0f with such devastating effect. 12 people kil

the international trade secretary says britain could remain part of the customs union after leaving thee on southern rail tomorrow, rmt leader mick cash denies accusations that his union is using the dispute to take on the government. leicester's jamie vardy and wales striker gareth bale are among the champions who could be named this year's bbc sports personality of the year at tonight's ceremony in birmingham. and coming up at 2.30, it is politics europe,

he is obviously keen to get out of the customs union and start lining things up, but certainly, talksnderway. to some extent, philip hammond was in seoul this week, argentina, not exactly a long time british ally, the falkland islands, but for the most part, this rhetoric -- we are going to have to wait for it well. but an interesting development in the u.s. last night, talking in the media, larry kudlow, a commentator, speaking earlier in the week, talking about the importance of donald trump striking a free-trade deal with the british early on in his presidency. if that goes, that is a really big win. francine: is it likely? are you in contact with the government? mark: i know in number of the ministers working around this area. i think the usa-u.k. potential deal is want to really look at. that could be a game changer, right? i suspect there will not be a single day where a new trade deal is set. i suspect it will be a process of negotiations evolving over some years, but looking at the politics of this rather than the economics, i think president-elect trump will want an early win

and before i turn to colleagues on membership of the customs union you tell the house last week this is not a binary option and there's about four different possibilities. and they're still assessing them. could you briefly set out for us what those possibilities are. i'm not saying what the conclusion will be because you haven't reached one yet. you have obviously one and you have countries like turkey that has an arrangement and puts it inside for some of its economy and allows it to do very limited free trade agreements. you have circumstances like inside of the single market and you have countries like switzerland who have a large number of 20 something trade deals and they have custom arrangements. and not comprehensive and partially inside. outside and free trade agreement and a customed arrangement. and happens across the world and come pleatly outside. that's the sort of spectrum. and that list doesn't include trying to be in the us toms union in certain sectors. and it's off to the side of the spectrum. are you looking at all whether northern ireland might remain within the

still having preferential access to the single market, possibly still in the customs union. 0n the europeanhe second largest economy in europe. they don‘t want to set up trade barriers such that the european economy itself suffers by losing the british market. and, of course, london, the city, is one of the global leading financial centres. europe needs the city to fund its own businesses. indeed it does. talking of financials, let‘s bring up the market board because i want to talk about that. we can bring it up because i want to talk about the ftse and the pound. this is how they ended as of 21st of december. everyone talked about how if there was a vote for brexit we would see that pound plunge. absolutey. investors would think that assets in the uk may be less valuable in the future so that money would be better employed on the european continent, and frankly in america, and so the pound has fallen in value. i think what is interesting, and maybe slightly more surprising, is how good equities have been and the markets have been. i think in a way although, yes brexit is incredibly importa

the trade secretary, liam fox, says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit on the government. will there be more success for great britain's rio heroes at tonight's bbc sports personality of the year awards? the winner is chosen by the public. and sportsday will bring you the day's premier league action in half an hour, including southampton's victory over rivals bournemouth.

decisionu confirm the is not yet about whether we are going to remain the customs union? and if that is a case, don't we have to stay in the customs honor therder to commitment about seeking a situation in which they can continue to trade without some bureaucratic impediments? prime minister may: as i've said in the chamber of the house, this is not a binary decision. there are a number of different aspects to the customs union. the relationship already exists. this is more complex than the way i approach this on the way government is approaching this and other issues is to say that the outcomes we want to achieve and therefore how do you reach those outcomes rather than assuming only one means to an ad around in one process to an end. as regard, the issue of the investment is a welcome investment to further investment made and remake it very clear we want the best possible deal for trading with an operating weight the european market. that's what i've been saying publicly to companies and also that we want to ensure the competitiveness of the economy and i think the deci

the trade secretary liam fox says britain could remain a member of the eu customs union after brexit. the rmt has denied that the union is using the dispute with southern rail to take on the government. thousands of commuters have been affected by the strike action over who should control train doors. personalities across the sporting world are celebrating this year's sports personality of the year tonight, with a record 16 contenders being shortlisted for the final award. now on bbc news, it's time for the travel show. this week, the american guidebook that may have helped save lives. it took a lot of courage for a black family to get in their car and hit the open road. lighting up jordan's most treasured monument. and dressing up in a polish castle. if you have misplaced your ties, i'm sure mr derbyshire can be of assistance. we're starting this week in the united states of america. nowadays, a largely safe place to visit, no matter who you are or what you look like. 80 years ago, though, travelling around some parts of the country could be a dangerous prospect if you were african—a

and before i turn to colleagues on membership of the customs union you tell the house last week this is not a binary option and there's about four different possibilities. and they're still assessing them. could you briefly set out for us what those possibilities are. i'm not saying what the conclusion will be because you haven't reached one yet. you have obviously one and you have countries like turkey that has an arrangement and puts it inside for some of its economy and allows it to do very limited free trade agreements. you have circumstances like inside of the single market and you have countries like switzerland who have a large number of 20 something trade deals and they have custom arrangements. and not comprehensive and partially inside. outside and free trade agreement and a customed arrangement. and happens across the world and come pleatly outside. that's the sort of spectrum. and that list doesn't include trying to be in the us toms union in certain sectors. and it's off to the side of the spectrum. are you looking at all whether northern ireland might remain within the

what you are describing as a protectionist customs union. that is what they want.oritise free movement controls over trade. that will be the choice of britain, not europe. and he is right. a final thought, on domestic politics, one reason why i thought the 10—year report will be interesting, we have no idea who will be in government in 10 years' time. ifjeremy corbyn does not get his act together... the rebrand. that may or not succeed. my instinct is, the conservative party gets a free ride in the house of commons. jeremy corbyn does not corral his party. beyond that, i think our relationship with the eu will come down to some of these trade deals. barnier seems to think we can get a deal done in less time. we can leave it there because we have 2017 to talk about it! that's it for dateline london for this week. you can comment on the programme on twitter and interact with our guests. we're back next week at the same time. please make a date with dateline london. hello. contrasting weather conditions top and tail this week but either side there will be issues with

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single market and i think there are real questions about whether it makes sense to stay in the customs unioneople in england at risk of type 2 diabetes could be helped by an nhs programme that's being extended from today. the advice on better nutrition and exercise had already helped 20,000 people. it forms part of a package of new measures to curb type 2 diabetes, including funding for more specialist nurses. millions of shoppers will hit the high street today as the boxing day sales get under way. the numbers are expected to be down from last year, with analysts saying that earlier discount events like black friday and cyber monday will affect post—christmas sales. an estimated £3 billion is to be spent at the tills today, with a further £900 million spent online. our correspondent amy cole is at birmingham's bull ring shopping centre and has been speaking to the manager of selfridges. some people have been queueing here since have past two this morning. they are hoping to write themselves a deal. i'm in selfridge's. you can forget the traditional boxing day, people are walking the aisles