Prime Minister Theresa May again narrowly avoided humiliating defeat on her vision for Brexit after the UK parliament voted on Tuesday evening 17 July against an amendment that could have forced the country to remain in a customs union if the May government’s customs proposals failed to materialise as planned.
Amendment 18 to the Trade Bill governing trade relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union after Brexit stipulated that, if no agreement was reached with the EU on a free-trade area for goods, one of May’s stated objectives, the UK government would have to seek to remain in a customs union.
Such a provision runs counter to May’s proposals. The amendment was lodged by pro-European Conservative MPs but was ultimately defeated by a few votes.
This close call comes after May lost pro-Brexit heavyweights, David Davis and Boris Johnson, from her government on 9 July and as calls are rising for the country to hold a fresh vote.
On Wednesday, EU negotiator Michel Barnier provided the College of Commissioners with an update on the negotiations with the UK. On Thursday, he will meet his new opposite number, Dominic Raab, for a new round of talks. He will also address the General Affairs (Article 50 format) Council at which the member states will give their initial reactions to the UK government’s White Paper on future bilateral relations (see EUROPE 12061). (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)