british prime minister theresa may has rejected the idea of creating a new customs union with the european union for a cold water on hold from some that she could shift her bricks of policy to win over the opposition labor party the idea of a customs union which would keep trade easements in place even after britain's withdrawal from the e.u. earlier also been proposed by a group of leading german economists. the border in question the republic of ireland on one side and northern ireland which belongs to the united kingdom on the other neither the e.u. nor the u.k. wants a hard border here. one proposed solution was the so-called backstop it would have allowed northern ireland to stay in the customs union if no breaks the deal was reached allowing for continuing trade with the e.u. a thorn in the eye of some lawmakers including allies of three semi who fear britain would be half in half out of the e.u. and not entirely separated. what we want the prime minister to do after today is to go back to the european union and say that the facts. have to go some in the e.u. have a similar view and

should we prepare for custom union.ade is that where everyone seems against it so why did they not do it? speaking, should they be bad for labour government as well? one of the things he did not prepare for eight leave votes because as a result a lot of people thought we were underprepared as a country when it came to brexit negotiations. i suppose theresa may is having a meeting with jeremy suppose theresa may is having a meeting withjeremy corbyn who wants a customs union. you cannot have a permanent customs union and be an independent trait policy, which is whatjeremy corbyn independent trait policy, which is what jeremy corbyn wants. independent trait policy, which is whatjeremy corbyn wants. theresa may is saying as a way that we did thisjeremy, they do not all come together. it does not mean what you think they mean. let us turn to the guardian. i think this is probably... my worry, but i think it will grab people's attention. there isa will grab people's attention. there is a smell in the air over brexit. this le

a permanent customs union would not enable the uk to strike its own deal.ess, the language, it seems to be, is a good deal monuments, and it was interesting listening this morning to the prisons minister rory stewart. he was quite open about the fact that theresa may was looking for common ground. what is happening here is not a shifting of red lines. the prime minister remains very clear that she thinks a very major economy like the uk needs to have the freedom to be able to make its own trade deals, so she is disagreeing with jeremy corbyn's trade deals, so she is disagreeing withjeremy corbyn's suggestion of a customs union, but what she is saying is that we have a lot of common ground, a lot more common ground perhaps and people have acknowledged on things like parliamentary protections, worker peasant rights, making sure that we get investment into areas of the country would haven't done as well over the last three years as other parts. so i think it is a positive step and it is about trying to help. both labour and conservatives understand that maybe

significant sticking point remains — whether to joina sticking point remains — whether to join a customs unionnot agree and ministers are dismissive of labour's idea. says it cannot agree and ministers are dismissive of labour's ideam is very clear from the european union that non—eu members do not have a say in eu trade policy journal to pretend that you could do so isa journal to pretend that you could do so is a dangerous delusion. much of what jeremy corbyn has so is a dangerous delusion. much of whatjeremy corbyn has put so is a dangerous delusion. much of what jeremy corbyn has put forward has a tinge of unrealism about it, i think the prime minister's letter in a sense will flush him out on some of those issues. labour says there isa of those issues. labour says there is a basis for discussion but wants the government to move further.m looks like there could be some progress, but also, you know, she has to guarantee a permanent customs union, and it is not obvious that she is prepared to go down that line yet. but let's see how things progress. there is not a sudden outbreak of agreemen

, lining up to a permanent customs union, lining up the single market, donald tusk's response wasrged theresa may to sit down and come up with an agreement with labour. the problem britain has at the moment is that according to the red line is that according to the red line is that the government has set out, that the government has set out, thatis that the government has set out, that is the only deal that we can get with the eu. if we shift those red lines... do you think there is any likelihood that theresa may this weekend, at seeing another defeat last week in the house, that she might be sitting down this weekend and thinking, do you know what, maybe this is the way to go?|j and thinking, do you know what, maybe this is the way to go? i think at the moment, no. hertactics may be still to try to support the right of her party rather than reaching across the aisle to those supporting across the aisle to those supporting a customs union, but we have a few weeks to go. this is clearly going to the brink. i think that britain will end to the brink. i think that britain willend up

in the look of britain where prime minister tourism a has rejected the idea of creating a new customs union with european union foreign coldwater one hopes from some that she could shift her brags of policy to win over the opposition labor party the idea of a customs union that would keep trade easements in place even after britain's withdrawal from the you had earlier also been proposed by a group of leaving germany economists. these signatures offer a little bit of security in stormy times or so it's hoped a new trade pact between britain and switzerland will define their post break that relationship that's important because until now trade between the two economies has been governed by e.u. rules the new contract says the relationship will remain the same even if britain leaves the e.u. without a deal a welcome status quo in times where brags it is just one of several sources of uncertainty. interconnected global economy if the chinese economy can slows down with a seven point six percent drop in chinese imports in q four of twenty eighteen it's likely to have an impact on the major expo

, but what most people who support customs union say they want is to ensure that businesses can expect to export to the eu without tariffs, quotas, or checks, that is precisely what the prime minister's deal does, but also allows the country to establish trade agreements with other nations around the world but what part of the deal does the right honorable lady actually objected to? >> if the honorable gentlemen would like me to answer questions i would be happy to hold a seminar for him at another stage, what a proper brexit to look like. may i continue my job and he can continue his and ask some questions. the technological solution is a nonstarter, a permanent backstop will never be acceptable to the ert or du p and the only solution that will actually work is a full customs union. that is what i said in 2016 and that is the answer that is staring the government in the face. it would command a majority in this house. it would avoid the mayhem and chaos of no deal and it would protect the jobs here and elsewhere which are currently at grave risk. can the minister explain why the prim

they wa nted outside the customs union.ion and all but name. i think 52—48 as a mandate to stay within the same neighbourhood. it's a mandate for a bridge building brexit. it will involve checks on free movement of labour and provide an emergency brake on the free movement of labour. it gets you out of the institutions but keeps you in the efta court. it is a stepping away from the eu withoutjumping off the cliff and wrecking our economy. that's the kind of compromise that british pollen takes —— british politics needs to discover the lost art of compromise. jeremy corbyn is taking the step in the right direction. there is more to do to get a political declaration that will deliver the kind of brexit that is going to reunite our deeply divided country. thank you. is this going to reunite divided country?” don't know if that is going to take... ithink don't know if that is going to take... i think it will be rejected by the prime to enemy, david lidington is also said he thinks it's wishful thinking. do think it's the right

take a permanent customs union, there is actually a majority of mps who would back it.er own party. so what other people are saying to you is thatjeremy corbyn can talk about that beautiful future, as he sees it, knowing full well that it is not going to happen? and also there is the question of whether jeremy corbyn would actually sign on to a deal led by a tory government to get it over the line. if you get to a position where you accept no second referendum because there is not the parliamentary numbers for it and it would be divisive, if you accept there is not a parliamentary majority for theresa may's brexit and it does not unify the country, then the only position you end up in is to soften that deal by getting concessions when you get a majority vote. i would like to hear from thomas. give us a sense of where people in brussels and elsewhere in europe might sit on this. jeremy corbyn is going to brussels. they are listening to this debate. with unending bewilderment. as am i, looking in from the outside. this country needs some kind of unification. it is not goi

means accepting the common commercial policy, accepting the common external tariffs, access to the union customso the union customs code — it is no use asking the shadow secretary of state... and accepting the eu state aid rules. obviously, mr speaker, a customs union would be negotiated. it would be inclusive. and it would be designed to ensure that... ..designed to ensure that ourjobs are protected, our investment is protected, and there is frictionless and seamless trade between the european union, and we would have a say in future trade arrangements. we will continue to vote down the blindfold brexit deal that will drive our economy off the cliff edge. mr speaker, there are just 59 days to go until brexit day, and that deal on the table is done. it's been dead in the water now for months, yet the prime minister is still seeking to run down the clock and push it through this house. this is incredibly reckless and risky. then it was the turn of the mps who'd put forward amendments. yvette cooper wanted to bring in a bill extending the timetable for the uk to leave the eu because she feared the

the prime tighter customs union, we might not be just. ..are voting on is the divorce deal, the separation agreement. the citizens advice that with the irish border and money. the verses for the future. the other side of article 50, we will have the same divisions, the exact same problems in the national party is about the future relationship we might vaunt with the eu. we have not even started this conversation check. the big votes will come on the 27th of february, it was time, a lot of amendments coming. they will try to take back control. is there anything the government can do between now and two steiner can change where this is heading? you pub on the gun has is that the first time the eu will look to make changes as at the end of march at the european council meeting flop that will be too late because at the end of fabric, we may see power on the end of fabric, we may see power on the seizing control. the eu can say, you're not to have a short extension, you can have my moments may be more. the price for that extension might be a very

with the customs union, she would lose more than the hardcore 20 or 30 tory mps in the er g.there could be an issue. brexit foul wind is blowing. the guardian has been leaked some documents from the environment agency which purports to show that officials are preparing to deal with stockpiles of rubbish in the event ofan stockpiles of rubbish in the event of an ideal brexit. this is a p pa re ntly of an ideal brexit. this is apparently because export licences for waste will become invalid overnight. we've been so intertwined with the eu so —— the last a0 years that apparently this will mean that we are going to have to deal with all this waste. it makes you wonder why we are not hanging on this waste. if we asked senior to europe for electricity, there could be a silver lining, you never know. that could be a positive out of it. there could be a positive out of it. there could be, but if we don't want an additional 3 billion tons of waste burnt in the uk, we are to rebalance ourtime of burnt in the uk, we are to rebalance our time of fashion tyro economy. lead you incinerate

they may well end up in a situation that is basically norway plus, a de facto customs union...byn's strategy... you may not like the position... they might not like the position because they would have to accept all kinds of constraints on state aid and probably on workers. they have deliberately drawn their own red lines. ina way in a way that it is impossible to meet any kind of tory government halfway, which they don't really wa nt to halfway, which they don't really want to do anyway. really, then, it is no longer about the national interest and coming up with a plan that can command some kind of bipartisan support, it is reallyjust about having some kind of clear distinction that keeps them from having any fingerprints on what happens after march 29. take a permanent customs union, there is actually a majority of mps who would back that, but the issue is theresa may can't do that because she would split her own party. so what other people are saying to you is thatjeremy corbyn can talk about that beautiful future, as he sees it, knowing full well that it is not going to ha

a sticking point remains, whether to join a customs union. number 10 says it can't agree. d has a tinge of un—realism about it and i think the prime minister's letter will flushing out on some of those issues. labour says there is a basis for discussion and wants the government to move further.m for discussion and wants the government to move further. it looks like there could be some progress, but also she has to guarantee a permanent customs union and it's not obvious that she is not prepared to go down that line. let's see how things progress. that dozen to sudden outbreak of agreement on brexit, there are so real differences, not least on that idea of joining differences, not least on that idea ofjoining a customs union. jeremy corbyn is not about to sign on the dotted line and back the prime ministers plan. theresa may needs as many ministers plan. theresa may needs as ma ny votes ministers plan. theresa may needs as many votes she can. we estimate it is somewhere between a0 and 60 who are actively looking for ways to support this at the moment and, if the labour party

the customs union is about the trade of goods and what that would mean, but it does show to us that these two sides are trying to talk an negotiate and come up with some sort of solution. can we draw from this some hope that we might get a consensus? or a getting overoptimistic here. —— or ami getting overoptimistic here. —— or am i getting. there is this feeling we have been walking in circles were a long time. as we get closer to the march 29 deadline, there is the feeling that this pressure is going to increase on politicians to actually get something done and get something through. i think we might still be a little bit early for that. we are watching this space as ever and keeping an eye on all the negotiations. this is a really interesting story. we have hungarian paper called blikk, which has its coverage of this, but it was also on the front page of the financial times, viktor orban unveilings family reforms, this is his state of the nation address where he talks about his plans to try and make people have more babies. this is quite an interesting take because you can look at it o

minister are adamant we must have the power to sign our own trade deals but labour wants to be in a customs unionthe european union, that non—eu members do not have a say in eu trade policy, so to pretend that you could do so, is a dangerous delusion. and brexiteer anger lurks. being part of a customs union would be unacceptable to plenty on the tory side. so if the prime minister's really serious about budging to win some labour votes, she'd do so potentially dry driving more of her own ranks away. corbyn‘s proposal would keep us locked in the customs union, locked in much of the single market, forever and therefore brexit, the promise that was made to the british people of coming out of the eu institutions would be broken. pleasing all of the people all of the time was never going to happen. the prime minister's challenge is to satisfy enough mps in parliament, to save her deal. this our top story this evening: this the uk economy grew at its slowest rate for nine years in 2018 — in part down to uncertainty over brexit. coming up on sportsday on bbc news: digging in —joe denly shows what englan

but mrs may says their plan for a permanent customs union won't work.he international trade secretary liam fox who today signed a trade deal with switzerland, says britain must have the freedom to sign its own deals post brexit. it is very clear from the european union, that no non—eu members how they stayed in trade policy so to pretend that you could do so is a dangerous illusion. president trump heads to el paso texas this evening to drum up the support for his border wall. but we are just days ahead of what could be another government shutdown. also on the programme... should he stay or should he go? the voters of virginia are split on the fate of their embattled

there are still real differences, not least on that idea ofjoining a customs union.yn is not about to sign on the dotted line and backed the pm's plan but theresa may needs as many votes as she can get and this might provide some cover for it labour mps to get on—site. and this might provide some cover for it labour mps to get on-site. we estimate there is somewhere between 40 estimate there is somewhere between a0 and 60 that are looking for ways to support this at the moment and obviously if the labour party where then to go for that, she would have then to go for that, she would have the majority she needs. the compromise continues but remember there is not long left. let's speak to our europe correspondent damian grammaticas, who's in brussels. six weeks to go and what is the perspective there than the debate around the potential customs union which might or might not be an area of compromise in westminster? but we have this evening here is a meeting between the two negotiators, michel barnier and the brexit secretary, they will have dinner in a few hours' time h

being part of a customs union would be unacceptable to plenty on the tory side.ister's really serious about budging to win some labour votes, she would do so potentially driving more of her own ranks away. corbyn‘s proposal would keep us locked in the customs union and locked in much of the single market forever. therefore, brexit, the promise that we made to the british people of coming out of the eu institutions, would be broken. pleasing all of the people, all of the time, was never going to happen. the prime minister's challenge is to satisfy enough mps in parliament to save her deal. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. the labour party has disclosed that it received 673 complaints in 10 months, alleging acts of anti—semitism by its members. a letter from the party's general secretary revealed the figures —— a letter from the party's general secretary revealed the figures after pressure from mps for specific details. 96 members were immediately suspended from the party for their conduct and 12 were expelled. our special correspondent lucy manning has the

we‘ve put forward what we believe to be a credible process, which would be to negotiate a customs unionible, and that has been confirmed by our meetings today, and that they could be negotiated. the problem is the prime minister is insisting on her deal, which has already been defeated very heavily in parliament, and running down the clock by trying to keep the threat of no deal on the table, with all the damage that does. and so, when we returned to parliament, we will continue to put what we believe to bea continue to put what we believe to be a sensible and credible way forward , be a sensible and credible way forward, which would protectjobs and protect living standards in britain, and ensure there isn‘t the disruption of what would be a very dangerous no deal exit from the european union, and very damaging to the economic interests of people in this country and of course within the european union itself. it is much easier if we do one at a time, it is the way it works, so i will ta ke it is the way it works, so i will take this gentleman here first. we will put a motion to parliame

but labour wants to be in a customs union — closer ties for business, but more rules. m the european union that non—eu members do not have a say in eu trade policy. so to pretend that you could do so is a dangerous delusion. and brexiteer anger always lurks. being part of a customs union would be unacceptable to plenty on the tory side. so if the prime minister's really serious about budging to win some labour votes, she would do so potentially driving more of her own ranks away. corbyn‘s proposal would keep us locked in the customs union and locked in much of the single market forever. therefore, brexit, the promise that we made to the british people of coming out of the eu institutions, would be broken. pleasing all of the people, all of the time, was never going to happen. the prime minister's challenge is to satisfy enough mps in parliament to save her deal. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. the labour party has disclosed that it received 673 complaints in ten months alleging acts of anti—semitism by its members. a letter from the party's general secretary re

and how to make sure the uk isn't locked in that prison of the customs union.has mentioned in the house do seem sensible. i think you would need to have a time limit but you would also... would that be expressed in a separate code so if you like rather than opening up all of the backstop? i don't think that would be good enough and it's my impression from talking to colleagues in downing street that they don't think it would be good enough either. the attorney general is looking into this, given everything that's happened over his legal advice wouldn't you accept his assurances if he said this would be legally binding? i think i would want to look very carefully at what is being proposed and it would have to give the united kingdom eight uk sized exit from the backstop. we would have to be able to get out by a certain time and you would have to be able to get out of our own volition otherwise you are locked in arrangements that greatly sued the eu that enabled them effectively, to run our trade policy that means we have not delivered on the result of the refere

>> i think people misunderstand what a customs union is. effectively, if you are outside of the e.u., it's effectively an import policy. let me give you an example if the e.u. does a trade deal with canada, for example, which it has just done, and they've agreed to reduce tariffs to zero, e.u. exports hit a 0% tariff, canadian exports to the u.k., 0% tear arifftariffs. u.k. manufacturing exports to canada hit the wto tariff. it's an asymmetrical process you don't get any benefit for the u.k. actually by being in that customs union the only benefit is an import policy and no internal borders snoo when members of your own party talk about being trapped in a customs union by this backstop, what are they concerned about? is it that lack of parity in terms of what that means >> it means that if you are a manufacturing business based in the u.k., you're not going to have access to any global markets outside of the u.k. on preferential terms at the moment in the e.u. the u.k. does have that. we lose that the day we lose the e.u., and the aim for m

ivery the customs union between the uk and eu. yeah, well, i...ch understand the british government's points that if you have an arrangement of the backstop that you can never get out of it, but the way after that is in the future relationship, that an alternative is found. and i think that is the challenge. i mean, ithink the people who are looking at this day in and day out, i know that in brussels and in london and dublin, they are doing this, there must be away in the future relationship and because we all do, remember, there will no backstop necessary if there isa will no backstop necessary if there is a trade deal, satisfactory trade deal worked out between the eu and the uk. my honest belief is that because the trade is so important to both eu countries enter the uk, that in the future relationship, they will work out a trade deal. i mean, it is, it is really nonsensical to believe that over the next few yea rs, believe that over the next few years, i know these things can drag on, i accept that point, but it must be possible for the intere

and that is valid tojobs. the customs union and that is valid to jobs. 0k, thank you very muchtion as well. because as he was second with accusations from him and from labour have been at kicking the can down the road. talk to the brexit minister, how are you. we have heard from the snp would lara say must us and that you are not kicking the can down the road and effectively the reason tonight was a tape waste was because the prime minister has not had a mini full vote until next month. minister has not had a mini full vote until next monthlj minister has not had a mini full vote until next month. i think she was very clear yesterday that we are going to have potentially three votes next month. in a few weeks. we have a photo on the bill, and if that does not go through, we will have a vote on it no deal and they will have a vote potentially to extend the whole article 50 process. that is a clear plan and is a road map. honestly, our main focus is government is to land a deal and we are working night and day to make sure we get enough votes to land a deal so we can leave the eu

that the prime minister has "opened the door" to a soft brexit by engaging withjeremy corbyn on a customs unionve that the paper says puts her at risk of losing the support of members of her cabinet. the financial times says that although theresa may has resisted the labour leader's calls for a full customs union — she has indicated her willingness to work with labour to break the brexit impasse. the daily express warns that one in three people live in an area with dangerously high levels of air pollution, according to new research. the i splashes on what it calls britain's hidden housing scandal — detailing squalid and dangerous conditions in properties occupied by low—income workers. the daily mail leads on reports of a growing cabinet revolt over the h52 rail link with ministers said to be alarmed over the project's spiralling costs. and the guardian features a picture of a beaming olivia colman after she won best actress at the baftas but the paper leads on fears that a rapid decline in the world's insects could spell disaster for the planet. let's start with brexit. may reject jeremy corby

still part of a customs union and the single market.argue that isn't brexit after all. keeping to number 10 would entertain it particularly after those comments on twitter from donald tusk that there is a special place in hell is for those who pushed the brexit. are they likely to listen to the likes of donald tusk and jeremy corbyn?” don't think so, but whatever your position on brexit, those sorts of comments from the leaders in europe and the headlines they generate just make the british person here and look around and think, if that's the attitude, i am look around and think, if that's the attitude, iam bored look around and think, if that's the attitude, i am bored sick of this anyway, and it's not very helpful. i can't help think this might have harmed positions against rapprochement. we heard box pops about people saying, no deal is better than this. this isn't good news for anyone. i guess the hard task for those sitting in the monetary policy committee at the bank of england as to what all this might mean for the future the bri

opinion given nine member countries in the european parliament has nothing to say we had to weak customs union now we have a strong going to own market have a monetary union and beginning of a defense policy we have a parliament which has close the democratic deficit in the european union is strong european union is which can apply. a role in the world and does play a role in this world because in the time of the sea and polluting and trump only together via have a chance and please we should not because of populism because of discussion in member countries whether democracy in the rule of law will play such a role in a future as we believe it should this all makes me nervous and hopefully in the european parliament elections but also in the city in the capitals of our continent the people are so strong too in the interest of europe which can be only sovereign if we are together every nation in known is too weak to get solar energy for its own people together we can get bags of energy for our people but only together as europeans ever brought thank you so much for joining us on the alex salmon

and a proposal last night referencing the customs union, this proposal was rejected by this house and getting more teachers into schools and ensuring getting more money to counsel, what did he manage? he is voted down, he opposed ending free movements and a second referendum, no plan for brexit or the economy and no plan for the country. >> first time by numbers collapsed under the last labor government are at a 10 year high, and the first time buyer, and in their 20s and 30s to buy their own home. and asking local authorities to use existing powers, to make sure many properties as possible as starter homes or discount market sales homes to help those people to realize the dream of home ownership. >> my honorable friend raises an important issue in pointing out the good news we see the 10 year high in the number of first-time buyers. the opportunities available to provide for this. and delivering affordable homes. and the local authorities, and to identify the types of affordable housing their communities need. expectation of major developments make a minimum of 10% available for affo

the uk— wide customs union, calling for a brexit deal.n, calling fora number of occasions. there was a call to close alignment. significantly, it is not repeating the language. the exact same benefits and in this letter jeremy corbyn calls for alignment, rights and protections, the uk standards keeping pay —— keeping pace. agreements on details of future security agreements. as i say, all of this is quite significant tonight because it is the labour leader sallying, if you get onboard with these five things, the labor party may back you and get a brexit deal. is that a realistic hope that the prime minister might suddenly say yes. they are not, and the hardest for all of them, to get anywhere near, is the customs union. there are many in the conservative party who fear, you either remove or drastically reduce the ability. the independent trade deals. the labour party think that after talks with prime minister. laying on the table what they think should happen to provide a bit more detail about what that would look like. as well is perhaps

i want out of the customs union, i do not want to be ruled by the ec].mebody else telling us we cannot make deals? who are these people? i did not vote for them. may i have a word with you? who is in charge here? parliament, the government? i would say the eu is in a position of power here. there are 27 of them. exactly. nobody is in charge, you have got very hard lines on either side. the hardest of those lines right now are around the so—called irish backstop. that is the indefinite, legal guarantee that there should be no hard border between northern ireland and the republic. brexiteers fear the backstop could effectively keep us in a customs union with the eu for ever. they will not sign up to a deal unless it is changed. and if nothing is agreed by the 29th of march, we will leave without a deal. i am heading down to the bottom right—hand corner of the country and the other side of the brexit fault line. it is freezing. in 2017, the voters of canterbury and whitstable elected their first ever labour mp. have you seen the prime minister? no. many cre

i do not think the government position would either be a customs union because it is toxic to a large by this point we would know what the future relationship would look like or even what things would look like or even what things would look like at the end of march. that has not happened and that means that uncertainty... we do not know if it will be no deal. we do not know very much, really! it means it is very difficult. uncertainty is the biggest problem for businesses when trying to make decisions. does that chime with your thoughts? well, business has been crying out for certainty since 2016 and two years later it still is. japanese businesses, particularly conservative, we have known that for a long time and they will go where the certainty lies. they do not want any risk. yes, that is correct in japan has just signed any risk. yes, that is correct in japan hasjust signed a new trade agreement with the uk. there are lots of reasons in the diesel issue and other reasons. peter campbell, the motor industry correspondent, one of the authors of the front page tomorrow, he said that

instead, she can —— says that she can negotiate the benefits of a customs union.eu if they offer any future improvements and theresa may says she won't do that automatically. one line in the letter sta nd automatically. one line in the letter stand up. jeremy corbyn‘s mps, some mps and leave voters went to see her recently and she is looking for further financial support for areas that have been left behind. police investigating the disappearance of hull university student libby squire more than a week ago say that a man arrested on suspicion of abduction is still of interest to them. phil bodmer is in hull. is now ten days to she disappeared and even with help from the community, there is still no trace. a 24—year—old man was arrested on wednesday and police say he remains of interest to the enquiry. homicide police have also said tonight he is being charged with an offence or offences unrelated to the libby squire enquiry. they include voyeurism, outrage and public decency and burglary and he will appear at hull matched its court tomorrow. libby squire's family

if you and the customs union with the eu, you cannot do that.sm to avoid a hard border in ireland. here's former prime minister of ireland bertie ahern talking to hardtalk. isaidi i said i hope there is no but science of violence again because we don't go want to go to the bad old days. we have to be aware that the idea of it infrastructure board again going back to customs, going back to police swarming around the border will heighten fears and intentions. the boy has been controversial since the 1920s —— the border. 19116 to 52, it was just the board up. 1968 and 69 and 1998 agreement. that was in large part of the border as well. we note that there is a great intentions at the moment i the border so i still want to believe that we will not return to believe that we will not return to violence, but i think that sentence, animosity, bitterness, the hatred that bringing back any infrastructure border cannot be ignored. whenever that is one of those days in brussels, one of the people i want to have found is... a little earlier i spoke to the bbc

ok, but can ijust establish, can you see a way that the uk can leave a customs union with the eu?t of view, i would rather see the uk stay in the customs union. yes, i'm just wondering if it's possible, because free—trade agreements rely on some form of checks? they do, but if there's a no deal — let's not... there's two parts in this. if they leave the eu with a no deal, you straightaway apply to wto rules, and i go back to what pascal lamy said on this, and i think everybody else has too, that if wto rules applied, then you have to have a hard border. that seems clear and i don't think people are disagreeing with that. i've sat through many sessions on brexit in universities and elsewhere, with various experts, and it seems very clear that if you go to wto rules, that you have a hard border. then, leave that one aside, if there is an eu uk trade deal, then it is imperative that you have to find a new, a different relationship than the bsckstop. and that is, that is the challenge. but i find it, listen, i've seen compromises in all kinds of things, including the compromises in th

mate rejects corbyn‘s customs union of her, this is four days ago whenjeremy corbyn wrote to the prime he said had to be met in orderfor lining demands he said had to be met in order for labour to support her plan. a customs union but the prime minister delayed her response to it, probably to think about it, and only sent it out at 10:30pm tonight, it's embargoed so that meant london newspapers probably did not get hold of it much before then so it's difficult for us to give it a root and branch but it appears that one of the main positionsjeremy corbyn put to her was that there should be some kind of customs union, a soft one of some description and she said no to that, apparently, but she has offered more sweeteners to get labouring labour mps. she's saying that mps will get more chances to on elements, this is a woman who does not understand national unity, it seems, she's completely the wrong woman at the point of history we are at because she has clearly decided that that for reasons, to placate parts of her own party... but isn't that what corbyn is doing?|j parts of her own part

and the only solution that actually work is a full customs union.mayhem and the chaos of no deal. and it would protect thejobs at nissan, airbus and elsewhere which are currently at grave risk, so can be minister explain why the prime minister is so dead against it? even if we take the right honourable ladies somewhat ill—defined description of a permanent customs union, that would not address issues in respect of northern ireland and ireland, in respect of either regular tree standards for industrial goods or phytosa nita ry standards for industrial goods or phytosanitary decks for foodstuffs and livestock aren't even in her own terms, her answer is inadequate —— phytosa nita ry terms, her answer is inadequate —— phytosanitary checks. she also says she wants to be part of leasing a market and that means free movement continuing and her parties manifesto explicitly says that free movement would stop. so is the right honourable lady supporting a norway model or ratio supporting the labour party ma nifesto ? model or ratio supporting the labour party

, ora union, or a customs arrangement, thatis union, or a customs arrangement, that is of courseour policy although many in the conservative party and elsewhere would disagree with that and say it's not delivering on brexit. and we heard again the argument for that this morning from labour's shadow international trade secretary, barry gardner. we are saying to theresa may now, look, you must get a deal through parliament that is acceptable. that means you must change your red lines about a customs union. it means you must look again at the way in which the future political framework is so back us, and what we are saying is, because of all the things that you have just outlined, she because of all the things that you havejust outlined, she has because of all the things that you have just outlined, she has to do end, she has to change those red lines. that was barry gardiner talking to andrew marr. we are talking to andrew marr. we are talking about all of these negotiations between the prime minister and the eu. when is she going to brussels? nothing can burn from downing street.

i'd be asking what on earth they mean when they say that they want to be in a customs union with thealso for britain to have a say in eu trade policy with other countries, not something allowed under the european treaties. so, mrs may has got the eu to agree to more negotiations, which means more time, but that's not the same as securing a new deal, let alone one sure of winning the battle of her party and parliament back home. now, eu and uk negotiators will meet on monday next week. mrs may and mr young cup will meet again before the end of february but there is a significant difference here —— jean—claude juncker. the there is a significant difference here ——jean—claudejuncker. the uk side still want to talk about reopening the withdrawal agreement, and the irish backstop. the eu side say they will only talk about the future relationship, possibly speeding up the process towards ties in the future to make the backstop unnecessary. big differences yet to resolve but they are agreeing to keep talking. damian grammaticas, many thanks. our assistant political editor norman smith is at

people are on ideal site and people are on the customs union side.ning? you'll make we have had reports of it, nobody has told me that you have heard reports. --we have had reports. there are 650 different views from 650 different mp5 so we are not going to pretend that everything is easy but i do think we are closer to an agreement now than we were two months ago.” wa nt to now than we were two months ago.” want to ask you about other things to do with brexit. the man in charge of police preparations, richard martin, saying today, a warning that britain will be less safe in the event of an no—deal brexit. what is your response to that? well, it's true that one of the reasons we are pushing very hard to avoid an no—deal brexit and one of the reasons i would welcome the constructive tone thatjeremy corbyn is taking is that in policing, as in another —— a number of other areas, leaving without a transition period, if there is no deal, leaving in march with nothing in place, will cause changes and one of those is sharing information systems which the po

that would essentially be staying in the customs union and the single market.ith theresa may with many of her backbenchers, but if you want to avoid customs or regulatory controls between northern ireland and the rest of the uk, you need the uk in a customs union and single market with the eu. professor david phinnemore from queen's university, belfast, thank you very much. let's get more on that fire at a house in stafford overnight in which four children died. our reporterjenny aitken is at the scene. jenny, this is truly, truly awful news, what more can you tell us about what happened ? news, what more can you tell us about what happened? a very sad day on sycamore lane. the fire service we re on sycamore lane. the fire service were called up to a0 am, police officers and colleagues from fire and ambulance services here. i have been speaking to neighbours who are very upset, as you can imagine. they said they were woken up by a blast, the sound of this explosion, and a couple of neighbours told me basal a manjumping out of couple of neighbours told me basal