The MP for Kettering had a stern message for the Tory frontbenchers as fears mount Prime Minister Theresa May could give in to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s demands for the UK to stay in the EU’s customs union after Brexit in order to get support for her controversial deal. Speaking in the Commons on Thursday, Mr Hollobone said: “If we were to be part of the EU customs union after Brexit, the United Kingdom as the world’s fifth biggest economy could kiss goodbye to any realistic chance of an independent trade policy. For this very good reason, being a member of the customs union was ruled out in the last Conservative Party manifesto.

Would not the Secretary of State and his entire ministerial team be honour-bound to resign?

Philip Hollobone

“Were this to become Government policy, would not the Secretary of State and his entire ministerial team be honour-bound to resign?”

In response, Mr Fox swerved the question and said: “It’s very clear that we don’t want to see a customs union being put in place for one of the reasons that my honourable friend has already given.

“As a third country, the EU would be able to negotiate access to the UK market, the world’s fifth biggest market, without any due consideration to the impact on the United Kingdom.

“We would find ourselves in a totally new trading position in that our access to our market would be traded for us.”

The comments come as Theresa May continues to cling onto power, with pressure mounting from Tory MPs for her to resign.

Members of the influential Tory backbench 1922 Committee held talks this week in Westminster as MPs call for the Prime Minister to set a date for her departure.

Under current party rules, MPs cannot mount a fresh leadership challenge until 12 months after last December’s failed attempt.

Mrs May saw off a bid to remove her by a margin of 200-117 in a vote of Tory MPs on December 12 2018.

Rules on whether to allow another leadership challenge as early as June will not be rewritten, but the 1922 Committee could call for Mrs May to provide a clear schedule for her departure if her Brexit deal continues to be rejected.

The chairman of the 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, said: “The decision was first of all that we determined there should not be a rule change to remove the 12-month period of grace during which a second confidence vote cannot be held.

“We further determined that we should remind colleagues that it is always available to them to write to me as chairman of the 1922 Committee raising concerns or setting out their thoughts, including concerns about the leadership of the party, and that the strength of opinion would be communicated by me to the leader of the party should they decide to do so.

“Thirdly, we determined that following the Prime Minister’s decision a few weeks ago to set out a clear schedule for departure as leader of the party in the event of the Withdrawal Agreement being passed, we would seek similar clarity from her in other circumstances.”

He added: “I think the 1922 executive is asking on behalf of the Conservative Party in Parliament that we should have a clear roadmap forward.”

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