Brexit today - as it happened: Liam Fox speech labels Labour's customs union promise 'a complete sell-out' of British national interest

Liam Fox says staying in a customs union would betray Brexit voters

Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, has claimed remaining in a customs union after Brexit would be a “complete sell-out” of Britain’s national interest.

Dr Fox’s warning at a speech in central London came a day after Jeremy Corbyn unveiled a shift in his party’s policy, confirming Labour will back a “new and comprehensive” UK-EU customs union to ensure tariff-free trade after Brexit.

Outlining his vision for future trade after Brexit, the Cabinet minister said there were real opportunities for Britain to show leadership on the global stage but only if struck on its own rather than “ceding control” to Brussels.

But Dr Fox’s speech was immediately overshadowed on Tuesday as his call for leaving the customs union – in favour of striking free trade deals – was described by a former top civil servant in his department as like “giving up a three-course meal for the promise of a packet of crisps”.

Sir Martin Donnelly, who left his role as permanent secretary at the Department of International Trade last year, said 60 per cent of UK trade is either with the EU or the countries it has trade agreements with, and that any divergence from Brussels rules would deal a blow to British services which would not be compensated for through deals with nations like the US.

When asked about Sir Martin’s comments, Dr Fox hit back, declaring: “Brexit is more complicated than a packet of Walkers”.

Key Points

• Liam Fox says being in an EU customs union would be a 'complete sell-out of Britain's national interest' 
• Momentum founder Jon Lansman will run for top Labour job as rival groups vie for power
• Brexit like giving up 'three-course meal now in favour of a packet of crisps later', says former top trade official
• Boris Johnson attacked for comparing Northern Ireland border to that between Camden and Westminster
• Customs union: What is it, what would leaving it mean and what post-Brexit alternatives are there?

[27 February 2018 11:47 · Ashley Cowburn]

[27 February 2018 11:57 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May had a phonecall with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Monday evening.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Yesterday evening the Prime Minister spoke to the Taoiseach on the Brexit negotiations and the situation in Northern Ireland.

“The PM reaffirmed our commitment, as set out in the Joint Report, to avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland or between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom and to converting all of these commitments into legal text in the coming months.

“The PM and the Taoiseach both agreed that it was their preference to achieve this through the overall future relationship between the UK and the EU. The PM advised that she would say more on this future relationship in her speech on Friday.

“The leaders also discussed the current political situation in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister said she had met with both Sinn Fein and the DUP last week and that she still believes a basis for accommodation remains. They committed to remain in touch on this.”

[27 February 2018 12:00 · Ashley Cowburn]

[27 February 2018 12:02 · Ashley Cowburn]

Liam Fox will be speaking soon at the Bloomberg offices in London. 

Here's a preview of what he will say: 

[27 February 2018 12:16 · Ashley Cowburn]

[27 February 2018 12:24 · Ashley Cowburn]

[27 February 2018 12:31 · Ashley Cowburn]

Liam Fox is now speaking at Bloomberg's headquarters in London. 

He says that since the referendum his department has been on 100+ trips across the globe in an attempt to build post-Brexit enthusiasm for future trade deals. 

Fox says Britain should have confidence and says the IMF predict 90 per cent of global economic growth will come from outside the European Union. 

[27 February 2018 12:31 · Ashley Cowburn]

[27 February 2018 12:39 · Ashley Cowburn]

Fox says our vision for post-Brexit Britain is one of leadership and says the UK is already a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 

He says soon the UK will regain full authority of independent membership.

[27 February 2018 12:42 · Ashley Cowburn]