Theresa May’s ‘customs partnership’ is a doomed half-measure, and she must reject ANY restrictive customs deal with the EU
During today's Cabinet summit, when the Prime Minister's ministers tell her that her proposed compromise is fatally flawed, she has to do the right thing for the country - and listen
Courage, PM
THERESA May must summon every ounce of courage today and make the right choice for Britain.
More than a year ago she set out her admirable vision for Brexit. We would retake control of immigration, our laws and our money. And, crucially, we would be completely free to trade independently beyond the EU’s borders.
She called that “the great prize for this country — to build a truly Global Britain, a great trading nation”.
But the PM, now without a majority, is under siege: from Tory Remainers, europhile civil servants and unelected peers all bent on killing Brexit. From opposition parties fixated solely on destroying her Government.
And from an EU that now seems focused not on a mutually beneficial deal but on trapping us for ever in powerless subservience to its Customs Union, neutralising us as the economic threat it fears. It cannot admit that — so instead it pretends the Irish border problem is otherwise unsolvable.
Mrs May must not flinch at this pivotal moment. Her idea for a bewilderingly complex “customs partnership” appears a fatally flawed compromise. It does not provide the freedoms fundamental to any sane interpretation of the Brexit vote.
When ministers tell her this at today’s key Cabinet summit she must listen — then insist on a clean break from ANY restrictive customs deal.
This PM can go down in history as the woman who stood firm for the 17.4million majority, faced down the doubters and rebels and forced the EU to get real.
Or she can surrender to those siren voices, and her own innate caution, and pick a half-measure doomed to fail.
Theresa, do not let Britain down.
Migrant goals
AN annually revised migrant quota is a far better idea than some arbitrary and unachievable limit.
And the new rules Home Secretary Sajid Javid is also considering, tailoring levels to our economy’s needs, are just what The Sun has argued for.
One concern, though. Say the quota one year is 250,000. Where will they live? Where will their kids go to school?
It’s great being more choosy about skills. We still need to improve our infrastructure rapidly to cope with the numbers.
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