Post Brexit Custom Bill passes after a number of concessions

Sky News: Theresa May has only just squeezed through a series of tight House of Commons votes on key legislation, after stirring up a Tory Remainer backlash by siding with her party’s Brexiteers.

Although the final majority was fairly comfortable on the third reading of the customs bill, a series of amendments, demanded by Leave-supporting Conservatives on post-Brexit customs arrangements, only just scraped through.

Mrs May also suffered another ministerial resignation as the other side of her fractious party reacted with anger.

Hours before key votes on her government’s customs bill on Monday, the prime minister had sought to avoid a parliamentary showdown with the European Research Group (ERG) of Tory eurosceptics, by accepting their amendments to the legislation.

The Brexiteers had planned a show of strength in the Commons, but saw the prime minister bow to their demands for the UK not to collect EU tariffs unless reciprocal measures are in place; as well as committing the government to having a separate VAT system to Brussels.

Siding with Labour to vote against the Brexiteers’ demands, 14 Conservatives sought to defeat the EU tariffs amendment, while 11 Tories also voted against the ERG’s amendment on VAT.

Both amendments passed thanks to the help of a small group of Labour Brexiteers.