Theresa May published her long-delayed blueprint for a fallback Brexit customs arrangement yesterday — a plan that could block free trade deals for years, might mean billions more for Brussels and which the prime minister herself admitted was unpalatable.

She faced down a cabinet revolt led by David Davis, agreeing minor concessions to a plan that could keep Britain tied to parts of the European Union after Brexit. She bowed to threats of resignation from the Brexit secretary by agreeing to put a specific time limit of December 2021 on her “backstop” proposal. No 10 had resisted this as recently as yesterday, although the concession has no legal force and last night, speaking to reporters accompanying her to the G7 summit, Mrs May refused to