Ministers are to delay Commons votes on the customs union for up to two months amid fears that they could result in defeats that jeopardise Brexit negotiations.

Theresa May is facing two rebellions — one from Remainers and the other from Brexiteers, both of which would effectively tie her hands on future EU customs arrangements if they were to succeed.

Anna Soubry and Ken Clarke, the Remain-supporting Tory MPs, have been inspiring a rebellion to keep Britain in the customs union by tabling amendments to the Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill, also known as the customs bill or trade bill.

Brexiteers were planning to launch a rebellion over clause 31 of the trade bill. This would allow the government to establish “a customs union between the