LONDON, Oct 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Prime Minister Theresa May’s office insisted
Friday it would not “trap” Britain in an endless customs union with the EU
after Brexit, amid reports some ministers could quit if this is the price of
a divorce deal.
But her spokeswoman declined to confirm that a fall-back plan to keep
open the land border with Ireland after Britain leaves the bloc in March 2019
would be “time-limited”.
Negotiations in Brussels have stepped up ahead of a high-stakes EU summit
next week, and May briefed selected members of her cabinet late Thursday on
how she intends to get an agreement.
Several eurosceptic ministers are now reportedly considering resigning
over plans to give ground on the so-called backstop arrangement.
Britain has proposed a customs arrangement with the EU to avoid physical
checks between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland, until the issue can be
resolved with a wider trade deal.
A Downing Street spokeswoman emphasised Friday that this would be
“temporary”, saying: “The prime minster would never agree to a deal which
could trap the UK in a backstop permanently.”
She repeated that Britain wanted a new trade deal by the end of December
2021 at the latest.
However, she declined to say the backstop would be “time-limited”, a
phrase which was in the original proposal published by London in June.
Brussels has insisted the backstop cannot by its very nature be time-
limited.
However, British eurosceptics are wary of being tied to the bloc
indefinitely.
– Threat to bring down government –
May is also facing a revolt by her Northern Irish allies over the long-
term trading relationship, an outline of which London wants set out before
Brexit.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has threatened to bring down the
government if the deal results in new barriers to trade between Northern
Ireland and mainland Britain.
DUP MP Nigel Dodds said on Friday his party also needed any backstop to
be time limited.
“This is critical. If it isn’t then the UK including Northen Ireland
would be trapped in unacceptable arrangements unless and until the EU decide
otherwise,” he tweeted.
A full meeting of the cabinet is due next Tuesday, the day before May
heads to Brussels to discuss Brexit with the other 27 EU leaders.
Both sides had originally set the October 18 summit as the deadline for a
divorce deal, but the timetable is slipping, with another summit in November
now looking likely.
“There are still big issues remaining and we will continue to talk today
and over the weekend if necessary,” the Downing Street spokeswoman said.
Finance minister Philip Hammond said there had been a “measurable change
in pace” in talks in the last 10 days, but there were “some big differences
left to resolve”.
If a deal is done, Britain could enjoy a “deal dividend” which would
“deliver us an upside” for the economy, he told the BBC from a meeting of the
World Bank and IMF in Bali.