"Ahead of a speech in Brussels on Monday, European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told The Independent that there is no appetite to return to the debates of the past on EU membership. While he insists the government wants to develop even closer ties with the European Union, particularly as the world becomes a more dangerous place, Mr Thomas-Symonds ruled out any sort of deal which would lead to a form of the UK and EU entering a customs union."
"He said that even a bespoke version, like the agreements the bloc has with countries like Turkey and Norway, was off the cards. In December, 13 Labour MPs rebelled and backed a Lib Dem bill to rejoin the customs union which was passed in the Commons. Mr Thomas-Symonds likened the idea of promising a customs union to the infamous Vote Leave bus which carried a message about extra funding for the NHS."
UK European affairs minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has definitively ruled out a customs union with the European Union and stated that Britain will not return to EU membership. Speaking ahead of a Brussels speech, Thomas-Symonds emphasized the government's desire to develop closer ties with the EU, particularly given increasing global instability. He rejected any customs union arrangement, including bespoke versions similar to agreements with Turkey and Norway. This position contradicts recent parliamentary action where 13 Labour MPs rebelled to support a Liberal Democrat bill for customs union rejoining. Thomas-Symonds compared customs union promises to misleading campaign messaging, asserting the government will not pursue such arrangements.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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