‘Faith in Parliament SHATTERED forever!’ Anti-Brexit MPs issued with STERN warning
ANTI-BREXIT MPs was warned that attempts to replicate the current customs arrangement with the European Union could “shatter” the faith British voters have towards the institution.
Columnist Melanie Phillips warned MPs their credibility could be put into question should they force Britain to remain in a customs union after Brexit.
A powerful cross-party coalition last week approved a non-binding motion calling on the Government to include the option of establishing “an effective customs union” between the UK and European Union, without a vote.
But Ms Phillips tore into the decision, suggesting forming a new customs arrangement similar to the one currently in place could keep Britain in the European Union “by stealth”.
Speaking to BBCÂ Sunday Politics, she said: “Either you are in the EU or you are not in the EU.
“The customs union is a way of keeping us in the EU by stealth and all those voters, all those millions of British voters, who voted for exiting the European Union will be looking on this with horror because they perceive this as a way of keeping us in the EU by stealth through the customs union fudge. It’s not a fudge.”
The Government has struggled to agree the route Britain will take on a future customs relationship with the EU after a meeting of the Cabinet’s Brexit sub-committee failed to back Mrs May’s plan for the customs partnership method with Brussels.
Theresa May has been told by Chief Whip Julian Smith that the Government will probably lose a crucial vote in Parliament that calls for ministers to make a customs union with the EU one of its Brexit negotiating objectives.
The columnist argued that Parliament had provided British voters with the opportunity to vote for Brexit and should now respect the result – which includes support for leaving the customs union.
Ms Phillips continued: “The customs union, however you want to dress it up, to some extent or other keeps us within the EU rules, keeps us in within the single market rules, keeps us attached to the EU in a way the British people voted to leave.
“Here we have the crunch that was always going to come because underlying the Brexit vote was the fact that you have Parliament versus the people, potentially.
“You have Parliament which is stuffed with Remainers, including the House of Lords and you have the people who voted for Brexit.
“People say the decision must rest with Parliament but Parliament gave this decision to the British people: if Parliament is seen to be undermining the decision that it gave to the British people then the people’s faith in Parliament will be shattered forever.”
To avoid a humiliating defeat in the Commons Mrs May is expected to postpone votes on key Brexit bills until the Autumn.
Both the Trade Bill and the Customs Bill must be passed before the UK leaves the EU, but around 20 Conservative MPs are expected to rebel against the Government and back continued membership of the customs union.
The Government has also faced 10 defeats on Brexit bills in the House of Lords after peers passed amendments which seek to soften the Government’s Brexit policy.
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