Sajid Javid shocks May by siding with Leavers and shunning her EU customs plan
Cabinet Brexiteers won the crucial backing of Mr Javid on their EU customs proposal, leaving Theresa May and her supporters outnumbered
SAJID Javid last night sank Theresa May’s Brexit customs plans by siding with Leavers in the Cabinet.
The Home Secretary, who was appointed only on Monday, stunned the PM.
He declared he was “the new kid on the block” as he shredded her customs partnership proposal at a three-hour meeting of her Brexit committee.
The ex-Remain supporter tipped the balance of the 11- strong team — leaving Mrs May “visibly shocked to have lost the room” according to one insider.
Mrs May was lobbying for a customs partnership solution where the UK collects duty on behalf of the EU.
Mr Javid said the plan would hinder Brexit Britain trading around the world — to the delight of Brexiteers.
Last night No10 sources admitted Mrs May’s preferred plan could not go forward in its current form. She tasked her officials with going back to the drawing board and “refining” how Britain’s customs and trade relationship will work with the EU and avoid a hard border with Ireland.
Cabinet Brexiteers David Davis, Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and Michael Gove favour a “Max Fac” proposal where smart cameras and pre- registration are used to monitor goods crossing the Irish border.
They won the crucial backing of Mr Javid and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, who also had “grave concerns” about Mrs May’s solution.
That left the PM, Chancellor Philip Hammond, Business Secretary Greg Clark and Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley outnumbered.
It is understood that Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington also sided with the PM.
Downing Street suggested the PM had also been backed in the meeting by Chief Whip Julian Smith.
But angry Brexiteers left her red-faced by pointing out that the Tory enforcer was not even on the exit planning team.
Mrs May was earlier branded a “corpse” by Eurosceptic Tories who said a betrayal over EU customs would spark demands for a leadership contest.
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