Theresa May 'will ask EU for new customs transition until 2023' amid Irish border fears
2 min read
Theresa May wants a special Brexit transition period for customs that could last until 2023, it has been reported.
The Prime Minister will ask Brussels for an add-on to the planned transition to prevent a hard border in Ireland, according to the Times.
Currently the transition agreed with the EU will last from March next year to the end of 2020 - but there are fears that a new post-Brexit customs plan will not be ready in time.
The paper says Mrs May will ask for a customs and regulatory alignment period from 2021 to at least 2023 to ensure no infrastructure is required on the border.
Such a move would enrage Tory MPs who support Brexit and could spell disaster for the Prime Minister when the landmark EU Withdrawal Bill returns to the Commons next month as expected.
According to the Times, she will offer a promise to Brexiteers to face down pro-Remain Tory MPs over calls for the UK to remain in the customs union, but only on condition of a further delay.
The report comes after the boss of HMRC told MPs the ‘maximum facilitation’ customs plan preferred by pro-Brexit Cabinet ministers could cost businesses up to £20bn a year and take three years to implement.
Jon Thompson also said the ‘customs partnership’ proposal backed by the Prime Minister would take five years to set up - although he said it could end up being cost neutral for businesses.
Brussels has already given a frosty reception to a plan from the Prime Minister to implement a time-limited 'backstop' which would keep the UK aligned with the single market and customs union if no new regime is agreed.
Meanwhile, the Sun reports that pro-Brexit Tory MPs have urged the Government to bring its flagship Brexit bill back to the Commons quickly so they can try to defeat the 15 amendments tacked onto it by peers.
One minister told the paper Chief Whip Julian Smith was a “bedwetter” and risked leaving the Tories looking like they were running scared.
The Times says the Bill will be back in the Commons in June after the short recess break next week.
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