This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/20/theresa-may-brexiters-customs-plan-irish-border-solution

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
May suggests Brexiters' customs plan could be Irish border solution May suggests Brexiters' customs plan could be Irish border solution
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has offered a sop to rebellious hard Brexiters by suggesting technological solutions previously dismissed by No 10 could ultimately be used to maintain an invisible border between the UK and Ireland.Theresa May has offered a sop to rebellious hard Brexiters by suggesting technological solutions previously dismissed by No 10 could ultimately be used to maintain an invisible border between the UK and Ireland.
The unexpected change of tack was discussed at a two-and-a-half hour cabinet meeting on Tuesday, when the prime minister’s spokesman said ministers had discussed “the potential for alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border” in Ireland. The unexpected change arose on Tuesday during a two-and-a-half hour cabinet meeting at which, the prime minister’s spokesman said, ministers had discussed “the potential for alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border” in Ireland.
The spokesman said one of the alternative arrangements “could involve technological solutions” – a suggestion reminiscent of the “maximum facilitation” model pushed by hard Brexiters but ditched by No 10 earlier this year.The spokesman said one of the alternative arrangements “could involve technological solutions” – a suggestion reminiscent of the “maximum facilitation” model pushed by hard Brexiters but ditched by No 10 earlier this year.
May’s decision to put it back on the table comes as the prime minister is desperately trying to prevent rebellious Tory MPs from sending in enough letters to the party’s backbench 1922 Committee to trigger a vote of no confidence. May’s decision to put it back on the table comes as she tries desperately to prevent rebellious Tory MPs from sending in enough letters to the party’s backbench 1922 Committee to trigger a confidence vote.
The number of letters publicly submitted to the committee chairman, Graham Brady, declaring no confidence in May had stalled at 26 on Monday, well short of the 48 needed, though Eurosceptic MPs insisted more had been submitted privately. The number of letters publicly submitted to the committee chairman, Graham Brady, declaring no confidence in May had stalled at 26 on Monday, well short of the 48 needed, though Eurosceptic MPs have insisted more have been submitted privately.
Earlier on Tuesday, Jacob Rees-Mogg called on Tory backbenchers to push for a vote of no confidence immediately, otherwise May would remain in post for years. “I think it is now or the prime minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election,” he said.Earlier on Tuesday, Jacob Rees-Mogg called on Tory backbenchers to push for a vote of no confidence immediately, otherwise May would remain in post for years. “I think it is now or the prime minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election,” he said.
May is due to head to Brussels on Wednesday afternoon for further negotiations with Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, on the final political declaration for the future relationship between the UK and the EU.May is due to head to Brussels on Wednesday afternoon for further negotiations with Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, on the final political declaration for the future relationship between the UK and the EU.
No 10 would not say when the document would be published, although the declaration and the already published legally binding withdrawal agreement could be signed off in Brussels at a special European summit on Sunday. No 10 would not say when the declaration would be published, although both it and the already published legally binding withdrawal agreement could be signed off in Brussels at a special European summit on Sunday.
A pamphlet published by the thinktank Global Britain and the European Research Group restated the case for “max-fac” on Tuesday morning, a model under which customs checks enabled by technology happen away from borders.A pamphlet published by the thinktank Global Britain and the European Research Group restated the case for “max-fac” on Tuesday morning, a model under which customs checks enabled by technology happen away from borders.
No 10 had previously rejected it after tax chiefs warned it could cost up to £20bn a year to implement. There was also widespread scepticism outside Brexiter circles that the technology was ready. No 10 had previously rejected it after tax chiefs warned it could cost up to £20bn a year to implement. There was also widespread scepticism outside pro-Brexit circles that the technology was ready.
But with May under intense political pressure as the Brexit negotiations reach their concluding stages, No 10 said it was “looking at what alternative arrangements might exist” and hoped one of them could eliminate the need for the Northern Ireland backstop. But with May under intense political pressure, No 10 said it was “looking at what alternative arrangements might exist” and hoped one of them could eliminate the need for the Northern Ireland backstop.
The UK and the EU hope to reach a long-term, free-trade deal to avoid a hard border returning between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The previously stated alternatives to that involve extending the transition period beyond 2020, or deploying the backstop, which is unpopular on the Tory right and with the Democratic Unionist party, which props up May’s government. The UK and the EU hope to reach a long-term, free-trade deal to avoid a hard border returning between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The previously stated alternatives to that involve extending the transition period beyond 2020, or deploying the backstop, which is unpopular on the Tory right and with the Democratic Unionist party in Northern Ireland, which props up May’s government.
At a morning lobby briefing for journalists, the spokesman said: “I think there was discussion in cabinet about the fact that the withdrawal agreement recognises and keeps open the potential for alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.At a morning lobby briefing for journalists, the spokesman said: “I think there was discussion in cabinet about the fact that the withdrawal agreement recognises and keeps open the potential for alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.
“Both the text of the Northern Ireland protocol itself and the outline political declaration note, and I quote: ‘Note the [European] Union’s and the UK’s intention to replace the backstop solution on Northern Ireland by a subsequent agreement that establishes alternative arrangements for ensuring the absence of a hard border on the island of Ireland on a permanent footing’.”“Both the text of the Northern Ireland protocol itself and the outline political declaration note, and I quote: ‘Note the [European] Union’s and the UK’s intention to replace the backstop solution on Northern Ireland by a subsequent agreement that establishes alternative arrangements for ensuring the absence of a hard border on the island of Ireland on a permanent footing’.”
BrexitBrexit
Theresa MayTheresa May
Foreign policyForeign policy
European UnionEuropean Union
EuropeEurope
Ireland
Northern Ireland
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content