but one tory euro—sceptic didn't see the need for a customs unions. the modern world, it's electronic, there are computers, there is off—site settlement of taxes, there is off—site settlement of customs, the wto knows about this, it would be a great future for us but we must have that freedom to have our own international trade policy, our own agreements with countries other than the eu, and our ability to settle our own laws and spend our own money. the british public will expect no less from this parliament. but a remain—backing conservative called for mps to put party politics aside. we give the prime minister space for those negotiations, but it is very clear that in this house there is a majority for a customs union to safeguard business and jobs and the financial security of our constituents in the future. when it came to the vote, the government won by majority of six. but ministers weren't victorious on the issue of the movement of medicines. if ever there were an example of an ideology getting in the way of common sense, it would be a hard bre

, we will not be staying in the single market and not be saying in the customs union. to do those would involve us keeping free market and that would not be keeping faith with the vote of the british people. there will be an end to free movement from the european union into this country as a result of us leaving the european union. >> thank you very much. >> mr. speaker, could i commend the prime minister for this plan. >> can i congratulate her on her leadership in -- >> here here. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister said she would listen to business and she clearly has listened to business. however there are concerns that there are no details about the government's plan for services and what more detail can we expect to hear in the forthcoming white paper? >> can i say to my right honorable friend, there will be more detail in the forthcoming paper but the point about services is that for a variety of reasons, not least because this is an important sector for the united kingdom, we believe it is important to maintain more flexibility in how we're dealing with services.

these proposals stop well short of a comprehensive customs union, something trade unions and manufacturers have been demanding. instead, they broke a complex plan that has already been deridedby her own cabinet members as bureaucratic and unwieldy . the agreement contains no plans to protect our service industry, no plans to prevent northern ireland and also put forward the idea of regulatory electability which we all know mister speaker, regulation reflect ability is a code for deregulation of our economy. the government proposals would lead to british workplace rights, consumer rights, safety standards and environmental protection falling behind in new standards over time and none of which has even been tested in negotiation. the checkers agreement now stands as a shuttered proof, a sticking plaster or the cabinet crack in this government. the future of jobs and investment are now state. those jobs and that investment are not a subplot in the tory party's civil war. >> and that such a crucial time for our country, in the vital associations, we need a government that is capable of negotia

or staying in a customs union or staying in a customs union or staying in a customs union as ispolicy because it would not deliver on what we promised people after the referendum, it would not give us the chance to negotiate trade deals. perhaps more pointedly, she is saying to her own backbenchers, back this or the whole thing could fall apart. high risk strategy, do they believe her or not and her credibility as prime minister, credibility as prime minister, credibility damaged last year because of the election she held and lost parliamentary majority as a result. she has stuck this out, the whole two years, she has gone from being the person, low—profile campaignfor being the person, low—profile campaign for staying in eu, david cameron line, followed it loyally, then said, people have voted for leave, i will follow loyally what the british people have said and deliver that. how difficult is it to do that in the face of the divisions in her own party and knowing she has to go to brussels and try to sell this plan there? extraordinarily hard. theresa may when the chequers plan

it is these sets of amendments, talking about a customs union in future, thatis about a customs union, that is where the main threat lies to theresa may's brexit plans. what about the possibility of this amendment, if it does go through on amendment, if it does go through on a customs union, actually wrecking the chequers deal? is that what remainers want? yesterday, they accuse the brexiteers doing the same, basically accusingly amendments put down yesterday of being wrecking amendments. the brexiteers have actually only put them down to register their protest and discontent against the chequers plan. thejury and discontent against the chequers plan. the jury is still out as to whether what was agreed on yesterday actually materially changes what was in the white paper, what was in the chequers agreement. the government insists there is no change of policy, that the amendments are peppered compatible. this would be a profound defeat if the customs union amendment gets the go—ahead. it seems like anything is possible at the moment. we didn't know what to expect last night, it kept on

they were confident that there was a majority in the commons to keep uk in a customs union should theo strike that trade deal with eu by the end of march 2019 but in the end there was just six votes in it. the government winning by 307 as opposed to 301 votes. perhaps not as opposed to 301 votes. perhaps not as close as the remaining rebels would like, there was another government defeat earlier, only the second government defeat on brexit legislation and that was not perhaps as contentious, it was on keeping the uk in the european medical network and the man who proposed that amendment is doctor philip the, a former government minister who resigned over the brexit strategy and hejoins resigned over the brexit strategy and he joins me resigned over the brexit strategy and hejoins me now. you must be very pleased that your amendment managed to pass. i'm pleased to have secured medicines for the national health service, that was my intention, i think the amendment was consistent with the government white paper and consistent with the government white paperand i'm consistent with the gov

has already rejected or the bottom line is northern ireland has to be in the customs union otherwise our customs barriers and that means that the u.k. the whole u.k. has to be in the customs union otherwise we'll have customs barriers between great britain and northern ireland which effectively splits up the u.k. so that's one of the reasons why some work will the other reason why it's unworkable is that it's asking for one of the freedoms of the single market which is the freedom of goods but not the other three services capsule and importantly people free movement of people in such a totality issue for the e.u. they will not allow the case to get benefits the single market without having free movement of people so john johnson why if the cabinet knows that it that it's unworkable that the e.u. is going to reject most of the proposals within the checkers deal what why did the cabinet back it where the cabinet backed it because the they need to try and come up with a position that the tory party would accept and at the time when the checkers deal was finalized it seemed like to me. ma

will she worked to stay in the customs union and the single market to protectjobs customs union and theable gentleman arsenal would i work with people across the house to stay in the single market —— asked. the a nswer the single market —— asked. the answer is a unequivocal no, we are leaving the singles market —— the single market and the customs union. how does my honourable friend reconcile the statement from place will with the recent repeal of the 1972 act on the withdrawal act —— the statement from place will. —— chequers. can i say to my honourable friend, we have indeed repealed the european committees act and we have also made sure that we will take into uk law at the point at which we leave the eu, such that we see a smooth and orderly brexit. in the future the european court ofjustice will not have jurisdiction over the uk and this parliament will make sovereign decisions, it will make a sovereign decisions, it will make a sovereign decisions, it will make a sovereign decision when the meaningful vote and the withdrawal and implementation bills are brought before this house a

we've always been outside the customs union because that is the model that suited gibraltar when the u.k. became a member of the european community back then. so we've always been outside the v.a. free zone but we've always been able to provide services and to europe and that is a model that works very well for us would you say that might be a lesson here for the politicians in london looking for a solution to this but let them of the perhaps the actually believing brought us position as opposed to trying to change growth or as a structural oh absolutely absolutely i have. most of my clients come out of the u.k. they come out of the city of london mainly and when i talk to my colleagues there they are of the same view about their main priority for there is freedom to provide services and not so much freedom of movement of goods they would be quite happy to stay out of the customs union so crystal from the chamber of commerce point of view if you could have a message to these or me the prime minister paul would it be from a broader perspective to things. the first most important t

there can't be traps in a customs union. that's not what we promised the electorate.hat won't deliver a brexit and we'd never be able to have any free trade agreements. victory tonight, even if byjust a handful of votes, gives the government some breathing space — but for how long? also on the programme... a complete volte—face. yesterday, about us intelligence claims russia interfered in the us election, president trump said this... president putin, hejust said it's not russia. i will say this. i don't see any reason why it would be. following outrage in the us, today he said this. in a key sentence in my remarks, i said the word "would" instead of "wouldn't". the sentence should have been, "i don't see any reason why i wouldn't, or why it wouldn't be russians". yemen's humanitarian crisis deepens, with one child dying every ten minutes. aid workers say yemenis are victims not only of war, but also, of global indifference. where's the water gone? a reservoir in the lake district shows why there'll be a hose pipe ban in the north—west of england. and saving the puffin

that was the critical issue about the customs union. it was to the wire.ential show of strength from the remain wing of the conservative party, they said they could muster the numbers to defeat the government on this. a crucial plank of the government policy, keeping the uk in a customs union in the event of no trade deal being struck. but i think if the vote had not gone the government's way it would have been a huge political crisis. so much so that we understand that if mps voted against the government on this, it could precipitate a vote of no—confidence in the government, so i think it is a sign of how seriously were taking that threat from the remain wing of the conservative party, who are so incensed by what happened yesterday in the commons on another piece of legislation, when the government backed down to the brexiteer rivals and absorbed the brexiteer amendments into the bill. so this was if you like a chance for the remain —— remainers but they did not have the numbers. they thought that they might have, they were confident prior to the vote. i

we are leaving the single market and the customs union. how does my friend reconcile repeal ofent with the the 1972 act and the european court of justice and the government in this country? we ensure that we are taken to the u.k. law and the european union law such that we see the orderly brexit. the european court of justice will not have jurisdiction over the 90 kingdom and this parliament will make sovereign decisions. theill make decisions with withdrawal and implementation bills as to whether they accept and itl being negotiated is up to the parliament to decide if there is any changes. back control of the laws and that is what people want and what we will do. >> the prime minister effectively killed off the trade retain regulatory convergence. this to say that she has lost the support of the fundamentalists and now is the time for a national consensus because a majority in the house support retention of a single market and the original common market or whatever name she wants to attach to it. referred toeman staying in the single mar

we are leaving the single market and we are leaving the customs union. elcomed a new brexit secretary. so, i would echo the call she has just heard to say that now she has the government has indicated that the facilitated customs arrangement even assuming that the eu were to agree to it, a question about which they must be a great deal of doubt, would only be fully operational by the time of the next general election in 2022. with the premise are therefore not confirmed to the house ——— will the prime minister that in light of that, the current transitional arrangement that expires in 2020 is inevitably going to have to be changed? no. delivering a result would always involve trade—offs. so i want to support the prime minister achieved on friday which putsjobs at the heart of a president. that is in the national interest. and i think the prime minister has the vast majority of the country behind her in delivering and brexit in the national interest. this week, the activists were so disappointed about what happened at chequers. they were betrayed, they sai

he referred to staying in the single market and staying in the customs union. we will not be staying in the single market, we will not be staying in the customs union. to do that it would involve is keeping free movement and that would be not keeping faith of the vote of the british people. they'll will be an end to free movement in the european union and into this and the result of us living the european union. >> and i commend the prime minister for this plan and in particular, can i congratulate ?er on her leadership mr. speaker, the prime minister said she would listen to business and she clearly has listened to business. however, there are concerns that there are no details about the services. plan for what more detail can we expect to hear and the forthcoming white paper. pma: there will be details in that paper and the point about services is that, for a variety of reasons, we believe it is important to maintain flexibility in services and the businesses are clear that they would meet, regardless of the positions they took because of the exports into the

, the issue of a customs union, the issue of a customs union, the issue of a customs union is sonment has repeatedly ruled that out in the uk ever stayed in a customs union, that you'll form of words, with the eu at the brexit thinking it would impede prison's ability to do great deals with other countries. on the other hand of the party, there are those who believe having a customs union is the only way to secure frictionless trade so that amendment that the memo was calling for the government to stay any custom jeans with the eu should any custom jeans with the eu should a trade deal not be done by the end of the process, if that had passed, that would have been very consequential those substantially and politically. the other amendment that was loaded onjuly 21 and politically. the other amendment that was loaded on july 21 the government was, its that was loaded on july 21 the government was, it's certainly an defeat, the second time the government has been defeated in any aspect of its brexit legislation so far. that is less controversial in a way because it is only going in

ireland border commitments if there is no deal, and indeed the redlines that we have in terms of the customs unionhe redlines for protecting northern ireland, if there is in any kind of no—deal scenario. given that the decision as to what the european union — which is 27 member states was the european parliament are prepared to accept — that we are now being told if they don't get what they want they're prepared to walk away, should we be making the same preparations, so that we are in a position when it comes to march of next year to walk away? the noble lady, the leader of this house, will have a seat at the table on friday. she has an important role. and i hope that she will urge cabinet colleagues to put their differences aside, to open their mind and agree a position that enables the uk to achieve the deal it needs, rather than the deal that brexiteers will let it have. hear, hear! now. forecasters have predicted that the country is set to swelter for anotherfortnight, with temperatures staying high across most of the uk. that will not be good news for the firefighters and others who've been

this doesn't commit us to ‘the‘ customs union, it commits us to a customs union, which is a customs arrangementership. but no further concessions were forthcoming. some were still trying to make sense of what had happened on monday. they actually whipped my party to defeat the government's policy as set out in the white paper. today, we have amendments which are entirely consistent, the reason we explained in the government's white paper. but we must have that freedom to have our own international trade policy, our own agreement with countries other than the eu, and our ability to settle our own laws and spend our own money. it is very clear that in this house, there is a majority for a customs union to safeguard businesses and jobs and the financial security of our constituents in the future. when it came to the vote, the government won by majority of six. by wednesday, it was a full nine days since borisjohnson had resigned as foreign secretary. and late that afternoon, the speaker uttered five words which must have sent a chill down theresa may's spine. personal statement, mr borisjohnson. h

has already rejected by the bottom line is northern ireland has to be in the customs union otherwise our customs barriers and that means that the u.k. the whole u.k. has to be in the customs union otherwise we'll have customs barriers between great britain and northern ireland which effectively splits up the u.k. so that's one of the reasons why some work will the other reason why it's unworkable is that it's asking for one of the freedoms of the single market which is a freedom of goods but not the other three services capsule and importantly people free movement of people in such a totality issue for the e.u. they will not allow the case to get benefits the single market without having free movement of people so john johnson why if the capital knows that it that it's unworkable that the e.u. is going to reject most of the proposals within the so-called checkers deal what why did the cabinet back it well the cabinet back to it because the they need to try and come up with a position that the tory party would accept and at the time when the checkers deal was finalized it seemed like t

and yesterday was about a fallback position inside some kind of customs union.t now i am told, we have run out of time, the rebellion is coming from those who want to remain. it is like the pendulum is going in the other direction. yes. on monday it was about people who wanted a hard brexit and yesterday it was about those who wanted a soft one. thank you for coming in. so much to unravel. we will discuss it in more detail as well. the press is all over this. let's brief you on some of the other stories making the news. protesters have gathered in lafayette park outside the white house in washington to denounce the president's remarks during his joint news conference with vladimir putin, in helsinki on monday. donald trump had suggested russia didn't try to interfere in the election on monday, remarks that drew widespread criticism before he admitted he'd meant to say there was no reason to think that moscow wouldn't interfere. there's been renewed conflict in several towns in nicaragua after armed security forces, wearing hoods, arrived in the early hours to ta

parliament votes against remaining in the european customs union. astronomers discover another 12 moons orbiting jupiter, including one on a collision course with the others. hello to you. in a carefully scripted but still spectacular public u—turn, president trump now says he has no reason not to believe russia interfered in the 2016 us election, contradicting what he said just a day ago. he claimed he "misspoke" in monday's news conference with russia's president. and for the first time, he also expressed confidence in the unanimous findings of his own intelligence agencies, although he then qualified even that. his original comments drew a barrage of criticism in washington, even from some senior republicans. chris buckler reports. with president trump, nothing comes without a little drama. even what some might regard as an apology. i have a full faith in our intelligence agencies. oops, theyjust turned off the light. that must be the intelligence agencies. after so much outrage, he had little choice but to shed some new light on what he said in

so she says the uk will leave the single market and the customs union. all things goods including agro food. on the whole issue of customs, a thorny issue which is at the heart of the whole i’ow which is at the heart of the whole row about the border between the republic of ireland and northern ireland, the idea of having a new arrangement, the idea of a facilitated customs arrangement. keyline in this document here tonight says that this arrangement, we re tonight says that this arrangement, were it to be agreed, will remove the need for customs checks and controls as if in a combined customs territory. and when you read that paragraph you see in no place though the words customs and unions appear next to each other but if you want to describe it, and it was not politically awkward for you to do so, you may as what is called a customs union. i wanted to ask you about those on the right of the conservative party, the strong brexit voices who were beginning to perhaps show signs of being sceptical about what might emerge today. as a result of reading what

and we've always been outside the customs union because that is the model that suited your growth so when the u.k. became a member of the european community back then. so we've always been outside the v.a. free zone but we've always been able to provide services and to europe and that is a model that works very well for us would you say there might be a lesson here for the politicians in london looking for a solution to this breaks at the level of the perhaps the actual ability brought us position as opposed to trying to change growth or as a structures oh absolutely absolutely i have. most of my clients come out of the u.k. they come out of the city of london mainly and when i talk to my colleagues there they are of the same view about their main priority for their freedom to provide services and not so much freedom of movement of goods they would be quite happy to stay out of the customs union so crystal from the chamber of commerce point of view if you could have a message to these or me the the prime minister paul would it be from a broader perspective two things. the first mo

la batt customs union in the trade bill.was more critical to the brexit strategy and would have been a huge political crisis had the government not managed to win that vote. we understand mps we re win that vote. we understand mps were told that it would have triggered a vote of no—confidence in the government should that vote not have gone the government's so it is clear that ministers were seriously taking this vote, it would have made the government stay in the customs union with the eu should know trade deal agreed by the end of march. it would be a huge sense of relief by tonight. there were only six votes in the government won by 307—301 but it goes to show that the remain backing mps in the conservative parties, when it came to the critical moment could not muster the numbers. they cannot vote against the government on a crucial issue and suggest the balance of power lies with the brexiteer is. that chequers agreement was hammered out by ministers and was supposed to be the plan presented on behalf of the uk to the eu

to join a customs union, much more than imagined.he european union is a slow and not very effective negotiator. the fact is they represent different countries. >> because companies do trade across borders which have custom checks, we should rip up customs free borders so because those trades take place. why on earth would we do that. >> everyone who comes into the eu via northern ireland stops, doesn't even match with, and a practice and collecting taxes. 13,000 lorries a year cross the border carrying drinks to parts of the united kingdom. not one of them stopped. >> we are two years on and no real progress being made. tory rivalries, leadership and factual is in making this a laughing stock and they should be ashamed. >> the uk government will not had things like that. and anything, and what the uk government tales into means to do so. it is a complete shambles. >> that was just the start. the next day mps debated the trade bill where pro eu conservatives put down amendments that the uk stay in a customs union with the eu if the br

brexiteers said we want out of the customs union, that is our red line. customs union, that is our redetail. see the detail. like to see the detail and on friday or saturday we will know a lot more. or saturday we will know a lot more. opposition not asked questions on this? this? jeremy corbyn was asking questions about buses. questions about buses. should have been asking questions about brexit. about brexit. you make aboutjeremy corbyn's decision to focus on buses? decision to focus on buses? the whole population talks about buses. whole population talks about buses. focused on other issues that people are talking about. are talking about. checkers over the weekend as to what the government is going to do. the government is going to do. years on after the referendum, angela says she has reassured. angela says she has reassured. lots of people are reassured. of people are reassured. brexit, we have been discussing brexit an awful lot. brexit an awful lot. actually there probably is a majority for in parliament? majority for in parliament? with something they can all agree on. on. in

remaining tied to the eu on medicinal issues, that vote was one that had wider support than the customs union. there is no clear alternative. there is no clear alternative vision. no clear alternative vision. no clear alternative prime minister or even i'io alternative prime minister or even no clear alternative plan to get rid of theresa may as the prime minister. there is a lot of huffing and puffing about showing the government and defeating, but she always imagines to get through and survive this crisis. but this won't be the last. there might be more this week, next week. even if parliament goes to recess over summer, when we parliament goes to recess over summer, when we come parliament goes to recess over summer, when we come back in autumn there is going to be a crunch point when it will be accepted or not by parliament and that will be a real squeaker i think. and among them john major. he has given another interview this evening talking about the threat that the brexiteer rebels on the other side of the party poses to her. he is a man with a lot of experience of this. a lot of them

stay in a customs union with the e.u. if the brexit talk fail to come up with an alternative by january of next year. wiska.ll was defeated by a he nos to the left, 307. >> but there was no sign of relief. the government was defeated over moves to keep a free flow of medicines from the e.u. and the u.k. >> most of it will be how far it will do trade deals once we've left the european union. the european government is keen to have a relationship to the united states. so they invited the u.s. president. the sun printed an interview where he said staying close to e.u. would make such a u.k.-u.s. trade deal very unlikely. just for good measure he added that he would like to meet with boris johnson and added that he would make a good prime minister. well, those comments caused outrage as did the fact that the president was coming to the u.k. at off. -- all. with tens of thousands of protestors going to the streets to object to the president's policies on migration and his attitude toward women. his visit had much of the formal

she seems to think that norway is in a customs union and it is not. what we have on the table, from the government, is a comprehensive set of proposals deliver foreve will the british people frictionless trade, and will deliver on what people voted for in the referendum to restore to this house control of our laws, control of our borders, and control of our money. to achieve a new security partnership with our european neighbors in the interest of every european country to achieve. that is something which the right honorable lady should get behind on, an dsupport, and work in the common interest, instead of harping from the sideline. [all shouting] my right honorable friend will be aware that in london we 377% increaseed a in moped crime in the last two years. will my right honorable friend ensure the government intervene to make london the safest city in the world? let me say to my right honorable friend that reports of crimes involving motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters are a concern. we have been working with the police to develop a comprehensive ac

we have got to have the uk in a customs union with the european union that pretty much mirrors the customst seem to divergence from that. but if you have a customs union, you cannot do trade deals with other countries. your hands are tied. of course there are consequences, but our major trading partners are those in the rest of the european union. what would lose by crashing out could not remotely be made up by new deals with the united states or australia, new zealand or canada. it is fanciful. we have got to have that deal with the eu. thanks very much. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news... the messaging service whatsapp has announced restrictions on its service in india to try to curb the spread of malicious rumours. several fake stories have led to lynchings and the company, owned by facebook, has said it will test limiting the number of times users in india can forward texts, videos and photos. president trump has made an unusual criticism of the us central bank. he told cnbc he's "not thrilled" about the federal reserve increasing interest rates because a

chancellor -- the right honorable lady gave away her misunderstanding so supply norway is in a custom union and north european union is not. so on the government is a comprehensive set of proposals that we believe will deliver for british business in terms of friction of trade. and will deliver on what people voted for in the the referendum to restore to this house, control of our laws, control of our borders and control of our money and to achieve a new security partnership with our european neighbors that is in the interest of every european country to achieve. that is something which the right honorable lady should get behind us and support and work in the common interest instead of passing from the sidelines. >> andrew -- will be aware that in london we've experienced a 37increase in moped crime and will my writing on the wall and government intervene to make london the safest city in the world? mr. speaker, crimes involving motorcycle, moped and working with the police and three partners to develop with a comprehensive action plan for focus on what works and what will need to be done i

that was the critical issue for the government two day about the customs union.at was going to be a potential show of strength from the renamed wing of the conservative party. they were determined a good muster the numbers to defeat the governor on this. —— the set wane. a crucial part of the policy, keeping the uk in the customs union in the event of no trade deal being struck but i think the vote had not gone the government's way, to do the leg would have been a huge postal crisis, so much so that mps told if they did vote against the government on this, they could precipitate a vote of no—confidence in the government. it is a sign of how serious the ministers were taking that threat from the remain wing of the conservative party was so incensed by what happened yesterday in the commons on another piece of legislation when the government back down to their brexiteers rivals and absorbed their brexiteers amendments into the bill. this was, if you like, a potential chance for the remainder is to get revenge on the government but they just remainder is to get reve

the labour party is one view, that we should continue to participate in the customs union through a customsy certain, that the labour party will be supporting a cross—party amendment oi'i supporting a cross—party amendment on that to the trade and customs bill. it is an interesting question you to jacob. jacob, the home secretary and michael gove are already running, to all intents and purposes, leadership campaigns to ta ke purposes, leadership campaigns to take over from the prime minister if she is deposed. jacob laughs. everybody here knows that is true. the point is this, even if you get rid of the prime minister, and you replace her withjacob, rid of the prime minister, and you replace her with jacob, it rid of the prime minister, and you replace her withjacob, it does not change the arithmetic. i do not believe they have the numbers to pursue the kind of brexit they want. we're running out of time. let me put that very quickly to jacob rees mogg. i used secretly running a leadership campaign of your own?|j am not secretly running a leadership campaign, norami am not secretly running

s customs union and parts of the single market separated through a border in the r.f.c. from the u.k.'s own internal market no prime minister of our united kingdom could ever accept this it would be a profound betrayal of our pressure. and while i know some might propose instead of free trade agreement for the u.k. as a whole this is not on the table because it would not allow us to meet our commitments under the belfast agreement so there should be no hard border between northern ireland and and secondly there is what some people say is on offer from the e.u. a model that is effectively membership of the european economic area but going further in some places and remaining in the customs union for the whole of the u.k. . this would mean continued free movement continued payment of vast sums every year to the e.u. for market access a continued obligation to follow the vast bulk of e.u. law no independent trade policy with no ability to strike our own trade deals around the world i firmly believe this was not on other referendum result so if the e.u. continues on this cou

and what we are giving up tojoin a customs union is much more thanis tojoin a customs union is much more the european union is a slow and not very effective negotiator of free trade. we keep hearing about their negotiating power, their size, back there represent 28 different countries means they come up with some optimal outcomes all the time. this idea that somehow or other every good that somehow or other every good that comes into eu by northern ireland and the republic is going to have to be stopped, it does not even match with common date practice. and when it comes to correcting taxes, 13,000 lorries per year crossed the border carrying drink to other parts of the united kingdom. there is duty to be collected on. not one of them is stopped because the duty is collected. we are two years on and no real progress has been made. tory rivalries, leadership ambitions, and factionalism is making this country a laughing stock. and they should be ashamed. the uk government will not support anything that has put forward by it remain. the labour front bench will not support anything put forwa

so some people are saying they want to vote in the trade bill to keep us in the customs union.not acceptable. that is not what the british people voted forfoot not what the british people voted for foot above are saying, perhaps we can not have the bill at all. that would be damaging to our no deal preparations of us give her eyes on the prize here. the prizes delivering leaving the european union ina delivering leaving the european union in a way that is in our national interest. to what extent would you say that the prime minister is effectively saying to her constituents, colleagues, there is no alternative? nobody has come up with a better plan. you might not like bits of my plan. you might not like bits of my plan but in the absence of anything better, this is the only option on the table. that is exactly her. she saying that the european union came up with some suggestions and none of them are acceptable. so here is my proposal. it is the only one on the table. before that meeting at chequers, her allies in cabinet where saying, you have to face down your critics. i think

it's a union for customs. that is... it's a union for customs. that is different. voters just is... xit to happen. they want to get on with it. they're not going to be marching in the streets over the common external tariff. some people do bring theirjohns but they are not so hung up on the nitty—gritty. they want food on the shelves after brexit date, they want little britain and a positive message to look forward to. a final observation, the times is focusing on the role of borisjohnson again. how much does he matter above all other figures how much does he matter above all otherfigures in terms how much does he matter above all other figures in terms of what he says and does? he is the talisman of brexit. he is the person... in this case he is, the talisman... what was i saying? if he is there, he is the made in india tower for brexit. if he leaves it is doom and gloom and vast. when he joined a vote leave, vote rs vast. when he joined a vote leave, voters thought that it might be quite good. that it was appealing and attractive. if he is still on board, theresa may knows that vot

is already rejected by the bottom line is northern ireland has to be in the customs union otherwise our customs barriers and that means that the u.k. the whole u.k. has to be in the customs union otherwise we'll have customs barriers between great britain and northern ireland which effectively splits up the u.k. so that's one of the reasons why some work will the other reason why it's unworkable is that it's asking for one of the freedoms of the single market which is a freedom of goods but not the other three services capsule and importantly people free movement of people in such a totality issue for the e.u. that they will not allow the case to get benefits the single market without having free movement of people so john johnson why if the capital knows that it that it's unworkable that the e.u. is going to reject most of the proposals within the checkers deal what why did the cabinet back it where the cabinet backed it because the they need to try and come up with a position that the tory party would accept and at the time when the checkers deal was finalized it seemed like three. ma

country that they have to pass through there's nothing great about having a customs union with the you is there while the point actually is how the. customs are arrangement or partnership or whatever it was because which something it was anticipated in our party manifesto last year but also the other point is that along with government went to him yes that's right and as we know we saw the election result which obviously has made things far more complicated for the government and it's a self-inflicted wound well there's no point of view and we are we are there's no point in revisiting history there's no dance in the country for a further general election what there are demands for from i know from standing on doorsteps in my constituency it's for the u.k. government to proceed with the negotiations and then that with the best possible deal so that's why all these things should be very much explored the modelling is in trying to get a solution that placates both remain as and bricks are two years britain seems to be reduced to putting forward ideas that are pretty much unworkable is tha

i want us out of the customs union. he wants us in. i want us out of the single market. he wants us in. i want us to sign our own trade deals. he wants to hand them over to brussels. i have ruled out a second referendum. he won't. there is no doubt which of us is respecting the will of the british people and delivering on the vote, and it is not him. >> we are 11 days on from the so-called chequers agreement, and the agreement, and the -- and the white paper did not even survive contact with the cabinet or the tory back benches, and has not yet even been discussed with the eu. the brexit white paper does state, "the uk is committed to membership of the european convention on human rights". is the new brexit secretary signed up to that? prime minister may: let me say to the right honorable gentleman that we are signed up to that. it was in our manifesto. can i also say to the right honorable gentleman that he has stood up and asked virtually the same question, and obviously has not listened to any of the answers that i have given him. the whole point of this is not that y

effectively membership of the economic area but going further in some places on naming in the customs union to the whole of the uk. this would mean continued free movement, continued payment to the market access and continued obligation to the vast bulk of law, no independent trade policy with nothing like our own trade deals around the world. ifirmly believe this would

trend of policy and tactics was making it look less and less likely that the uk would leave the customs unionnd single market. the resignation comes just days after the prime minister secured the cabinet's backing for her brexit plan during an away day at chequers. theresa may says she is sorry to see him go but disagrees with his characterisation of policy. mr davis is not the only one having doubts. brexit minister steve baker has also left his post. the leading tory brexiteerjacob—