No 10: Brexit showdown on customs union not a 'vote of confidence' in PM

Downing Street has dismissed suggestions a looming parliamentary showdown over a key part of Theresa May's Brexit strategy will effectively be a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister.

The PM's official spokesman said it was an "absolute mystery" where suggestions had originated that the Government would frame key votes on its position on the customs union next month as verdicts on Mrs May's premiership.

It comes as MPs (BSE: MPSLTD.BO - news) prepare to debate the legislation - and the PM's stance on the issue - in the Commons on Thursday following a defeat in the Lords on the issue last week.

:: Customs union showdown is important - here's why

This week's vote will be symbolic and non-binding, but it has the potential to deepen Tory Brexit tensions and lay bare the scale of the task facing Mrs May ahead of binding votes on the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill and EU Withdrawal Bill that could force her to change tack.

Downing Street has sought to play down the significance of Thursday's vote, with the PM's spokesman describing it as a "routine backbench business debate".

And on reports from the BBC suggesting the customs union issue could be treated as a motion of confidence in the Government, the spokesman said: "That report was an absolute mystery to me and I note that it quickly disappeared from the bulletins."

Amendments to the Taxation Bill have been tabled by Conservative MP Anna Soubry and Labour's Chuka Umunna, who tweeted "the Brextremists threaten May with a leadership election if she concedes on the customs union".

Number 10 has insisted the PM remains committed to leaving the customs union, in the face of reports at the weekend that her position may be softening.

The Sunday Times reported that Downing Street has privately admitted the PM may have to accept some form of customs union with the EU.

According to the report, the PM and her top aides "will not be crying into our beer" if Parliament forces such an outcome on the Government.

Speaking on Monday, Mrs May said her Government had put forward plans that will both "deliver a frictionless border" and "enable us to do trade deals around the rest of the world" outside the customs union.

"Coming out of the customs union means that we will be free to have those deals - deals that suit the UK," she said.

"But I also recognise the importance to businesses like this of being able to have as frictionless a border as possible into the European Union."

The PM's spokesman said earlier that the Government had set out the options - a customs partnership or a streamlined customs arrangement - nearly a year ago.

They added that the Government is "moving forwards as one" with Brexit.

Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Mrs May had been "totally clear right from the outset".

"We are not going to be part of the customs union or a customs union because she (the PM) thinks if we did that we would not be delivering the Brexit that the British people voted for," he told Sky News.

Housing and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said leaving the customs union was an "intrinsic part" of Brexit.

"Some see the CU as some kind of post-Brexit comfort blanket," he tweeted. "But they're only thinking about the past referendum, not the UK's future."

Environment Secretary Michael Gove wrote on Twitter (Frankfurt: A1W6XZ - news) : "Sajid is right - the referendum vote was clear - we need to take back control of trade - that means leaving the protectionist customs union."

Meanwhile, prominent Brexiteers Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox are reported to have rejected Mrs May's proposal for a customs partnership, saying it would be unworkable.

According to The Times, the trio fear that pursuing such an option would lead to the EU pushing for Britain to stay in a customs union instead.