Pro-European Tory MPs handed Theresa May a stay of execution last night after they signalled that they would not use a crunch vote to demand that Britain remain in a customs union with Europe. In a compromise brokered after hours of talks, a leading Tory rebel said that she would drop her support for a Lords amendment to the government’s flagship Brexit bill that would force ministers to negotiate a customs union with Brussels. Instead, a fresh amendment is expected to be tabled — backed by the rebels — that will commit Britain to negotiating a new customs “arrangement” with the EU. However, in a sign that the compromise had only bought time for the government, Nicky Morgan, the former education secretary, said that pro-Europeans
The UK government is set to table a fresh amendment to the Withdrawal Bill, calling for the country to be a part of a customs agreement, rather than a customs union with the EU. The move is an attempt to appease Tory rebels ahead of several key parliamentary votes on the legislation. Former education secretary pro-EU said the compromise had bought prime minister Theresa May some "breathing space", but warned Nicky Morgan MPs could still vote against her in future.