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'Livid' Michael Gove rips up EU customs partnership report | 'Livid' Michael Gove rips up EU customs partnership report |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Environment Secretary Michael Gove physically ripped up a report on Theresa May's preferred option for a new customs partnership with the EU. | Environment Secretary Michael Gove physically ripped up a report on Theresa May's preferred option for a new customs partnership with the EU. |
He was said to have been "livid" as he felt the government document wrongly suggested his Brexit working group had agreed the plan was viable. | He was said to have been "livid" as he felt the government document wrongly suggested his Brexit working group had agreed the plan was viable. |
According to Mr Gove's spokesman, he felt it downplayed his objections to the proposed customs relationship. | According to Mr Gove's spokesman, he felt it downplayed his objections to the proposed customs relationship. |
It comes amid cabinet splits over the future shape of Brexit. | It comes amid cabinet splits over the future shape of Brexit. |
The government has talked publicly about two potential options for its customs relationship with the European Union after Brexit. | The government has talked publicly about two potential options for its customs relationship with the European Union after Brexit. |
One, a customs partnership, would mean the UK applies the EU's own tariffs and rules of origin to all goods arriving in the country, intended for the EU. | One, a customs partnership, would mean the UK applies the EU's own tariffs and rules of origin to all goods arriving in the country, intended for the EU. |
The other, known as maximum facilitation or max-fac, aims to employ new technology to remove the need for physical customs checks where possible. | The other, known as maximum facilitation or max-fac, aims to employ new technology to remove the need for physical customs checks where possible. |
Two groups of cabinet members were looking at each of the plans. | Two groups of cabinet members were looking at each of the plans. |
The document in question, prepared by civil servants, was supposed to represent the views of a group of cabinet members looking at the customs partnership, including Mr Gove. | The document in question, prepared by civil servants, was supposed to represent the views of a group of cabinet members looking at the customs partnership, including Mr Gove. |
The Sun reported Mr Gove "physically ripped it up to show he wasn't prepared to accept the document as a summary of their discussions". | The Sun reported Mr Gove "physically ripped it up to show he wasn't prepared to accept the document as a summary of their discussions". |
BBC political correspondent Matt Cole said representatives for Mr Gove had confirmed the paper's claims. | BBC political correspondent Matt Cole said representatives for Mr Gove had confirmed the paper's claims. |
Mr Gove was unhappy because it didn't "reflect his views that a customs partnership would be too bureaucratic and make it harder for Britain to do business", our correspondent said. | Mr Gove was unhappy because it didn't "reflect his views that a customs partnership would be too bureaucratic and make it harder for Britain to do business", our correspondent said. |
Analysis: Cabinet discipline broken | Analysis: Cabinet discipline broken |
By Matt Cole, BBC political correspondent | By Matt Cole, BBC political correspondent |
This outburst of anger - and, crucially, the fact it has become public - is another sign that Cabinet discipline has broken down. | This outburst of anger - and, crucially, the fact it has become public - is another sign that Cabinet discipline has broken down. |
The question around Westminster is has Theresa May lost control and, if so, is that irrevocable? | The question around Westminster is has Theresa May lost control and, if so, is that irrevocable? |
In recent days Boris Johnson has been criticised by colleagues like Greg Clark and Matthew Hancock for using an expletive to summarise his views about business and Brexit. | In recent days Boris Johnson has been criticised by colleagues like Greg Clark and Matthew Hancock for using an expletive to summarise his views about business and Brexit. |
That was followed by another Cabinet member Liz Truss saying it "wasn't macho" for people like the defence secretary to publicly demand extra cash. | That was followed by another Cabinet member Liz Truss saying it "wasn't macho" for people like the defence secretary to publicly demand extra cash. |
This stuff is normally hidden behind the cloak of collective cabinet responsibility. | This stuff is normally hidden behind the cloak of collective cabinet responsibility. |
So, with Michael Gove now happy for it to be known he's "livid" about a report by a sub-committee of a sub-committee (yes, that's right), it's only adding to the sense that the prime minister is a ring master whose whip crack is being ignored. | So, with Michael Gove now happy for it to be known he's "livid" about a report by a sub-committee of a sub-committee (yes, that's right), it's only adding to the sense that the prime minister is a ring master whose whip crack is being ignored. |
Meanwhile, European Council president Donald Tusk has issued a "last call" to the UK to "lay the cards on the table" if a Brexit deal is to be done in time. | |
Mr Tusk said the most difficult issues remained unresolved and quick progress was needed if agreement was to be reached by October. | |
Mrs May and her cabinet are due to meet at Chequers next Friday as they look to agree on a blueprint for the UK's future relationship with the EU. | |
The UK will then publish a White Paper setting out "in more detail what strong partnership the United Kingdom wants to see with the European Union in the future", the prime minister has said. |