The Business Secretary joined Andrew Marr this morning to keep alive the Prime Minister’s aspiration for a customs partnership with the EU after Brexit. On Wednesday, the Brexit inner cabinet voted down Theresa May’s proposal, which would see the UK government collect tariffs on behalf of the EU in return for greater access to the European market. Despite this setback, Clark argued strongly in favour of a ‘customs agreement that has the minimum of frictions’, as it would allow importation of important goods and materials ‘without any checks at the border’, something which he described as ‘crucial’ for British business:
AM: There are those of your colleagues who say that going down this route would be a denial of Brexit, ‘cretinous’, and after that Cabinet discussion you were part of, it has been destroyed as an option… Is it on the table?
GC: Yes… We’ve got three requirements for this new arrangement that would have to be in place.
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