Andrea Leadsom says customs partnership with EU ‘unwieldy and impractical’

  • ‘Customs partnership’ is one option being considered by Mrs May post-Brexit
  • Leader of the House of Commons is latest Eurosceptic to attack PM’s proposal
  • Ms Leadsom said that businesses not keen on more bureaucracy or red tape 

Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, last night became the latest Eurosceptic minister to publically attack Theresa May’s customs deal proposal

Plans for Britain to form a customs partnership with the EU after Brexit are ‘unwieldy and impractical’ and would lead to more bureaucratic red tape, a Cabinet minister has warned.

Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, last night became the latest Eurosceptic minister to publically attack Theresa May’s proposal for Britain to enter a customs deal with the EU.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, prominent Brexiteer Mrs Leadsom said: ‘I think the Custom Partnership looks quite bureaucratic and unwieldy, it has implications for needing to keep alignment with a lot of EU product regulations and so on.

‘That does seem to lend itself to a more technology-driven solution than one where you’re seeking to pick up tariffs on third parties which can get complicated.’

She continued: ‘The problem with complications, particularly for businesses, they are not keen on more bureaucracy, more red tape. 

‘That is potentially a less attractive option for businesses themselves.’

The ‘customs partnership’ with the EU is one of two options being considered by the Theresa May for customs arrangement with the EU after Brexit.

It would see the UK would collect tariffs set by the EU Customs Union on goods entering Britain on behalf of the bloc. 

The other idea is maximum facilitation, which would use technology to minimise customs checks.

However, the idea of a post-Brexit customs partnership has been criticised by Brexiteers, with Boris Johnson dismissing the idea as ‘crazy’ and Michael Gove warning of ‘significant question marks’ over the ‘flawed’ plan.

Mrs Leadsom added: ‘It’s all very civilised but Michael and Liam are effectively ripping it to shreds. 

David is taking a more neutral, diplomatic role while Liam and Michael are taking the customs partnership to the abattoir.’

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