Theresa May avoids major Brexit defeat on customs union amendment

Reuters

Theresa May

LONDON - Theresa May has narrowly defeated an effort by pro-EU MPs to keep Britain in a customs union with the European Union after Brexit.

The House of Commons voted against an amendment to the Trade Bill which would have forced the prime minister to pursue a full customs union with the EU if she has failed to secure frictionless trade by January 2019.

The amendment, tabled by pro-EU Conservative MPs Stephen Hammond and Nicky Morgan, was defeated by 307 votes to 301.

The result will come as a huge relief to the prime minister amid pressure from pro-Brexit MPs not to soften her position on Britain's departure from the EU.

Around 40 Tory MPs have reportedly already submitted a letter to the party leadership calling for a vote of no confidence. A vote of no confidence will be held if 48 or more are submitted.

However, the government was defeated on an amendment to keep Britain in the European Medicines Agency - the EU agency covering medicine - by 305 votes to 301.

This latest Commons vote on Brexit followed chaos in Westminster on Monday when May was forced to ditch her own Brexit policy in order to avoid a defeat at the hands of pro-Leave MPs led by the backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg.

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