Rebel Tory launches fresh bid to defeat Theresa May on customs union

A former Tory minister has launched a fresh bid to defeat the Government over Brexit.



Anna Soubry is hoping to win the backing of the Labour party for her attempt to force Theresa May to agree a customs union with the EU.

The leading rebel has tabled a fresh amendment to the Government's Trade Bill, which MPs are expected to vote on within weeks.

Ms Soubry tweeted: "It would be in the national interest if the Government & official Opposition also backed it."

I've tabled a new amendment to #TradeBill mandating Govt to form "a" Customs Union with #EU #Brexit. It's gaining x party support @ChukaUmunna @NickyMorgan01 et al. It would be in the national interest if the Government & official Opposition also backed it. https://t.co/DepbwMoKUf — Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) 22 February 2018

Her move comes as Jeremy Corbyn prepares to officially commit Labour to joining a customs union with the EU after Brexit.

Given Mrs May only has a working majority of 13, that greatly improves the chances of Ms Soubry's amendment being passed, in what would be another huge blow to the Prime Minister's authority.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry yesterday gave the clearest hint yet that Labour is preparing for a major shift in its Brexit stance.

Speaking on LBC, Ms Thornberry said: "I would say that we would take advantage of being in a partnership with the European Union in order to be able to, for example, negotiate with China, and China wouldn't just be negotiating with Britain, it would be Britain and the European Union.

"The European Union would have the advantage of not only negotiating on their behalf, but they would have the additional clout of being able to work in partnership with us.

"We would have to be involved in making sure that those rules were in accordance with British interests."