The Government has laid out plans to leave the customs union, including in the case of no deal, in the newly published Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill.

It comes after a vote yesterday in which the Labour leadership ordered its MPs to vote with the Conservatives against an amendment to keep the UK in the customs union.

Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson Tom Brake commented:

“This bill threatens UK businesses with mountains of red tape by tearing up Britain’s membership of the customs union.

“The Government has failed to explain how it will prevent customs chaos at our ports after Brexit, with longer delays, higher costs and queues of traffic.

“They have also failed to provide a solution that would avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

“The Conservatives are trying to a force the most extreme and damaging version of Brexit on the public, and Labour is failing oppose them.

“We will keep fighting to keep Britain in the customs union and single market, and to give people a chance to exit from Brexit and stay in the EU.”