A coalition of MPs are getting organised against a crash-and-burn Brexit. At last.

Things are ‘evolving’ around Brexit. Not my words, but John McDonnell’s. A couple of factors mean things could be about to get very interesting indeed.

Labour’s policy is starting to become, if not clear, then at least vaguely logical. John McDonnell told a Resolution Foundation event this morning: 

“Our position is, yes, we want to see on the table ‘a’ customs union negotiation, not ‘the’ customs union. We think there could be a reform. ‘A’ customs union is a way forward, particularly in solving some of the issues around Northern Ireland.

“What we’re concerned about is that the government have ruled even that option off the table, I think they’re going to have to come back and readdress it.”

The reason they are opting for ‘a’ customs union is that membership of ‘THE’ Customs Union, for non-EU countries, limits those countries’ ability to influence new trade talks. McDonnell uses the example of Turkey, who follow EU tariffs policy but have no say over them or any new deals.

It turns out there are several – perhaps many – wet Conservatives who agree with the Labour line. And they are proposing an amendment to the Brexit Trade Bill. 

Anna Soubry and Ken Clark have proposed a motion which, If passed, would require the government to “take all necessary steps to implement an international trade agreement which enables the UK to participate after exit day in a customs union with the EU.”

While the amendment may not be heard for a couple of months, that gives more time for Parliament’s sensible voices to organise.

And the most significant thing of all: with this wording, both Labour and sensible Tories could get behind it.

We are witnessing some kind of soft Brexit alignment in Parliament. A slow-motion backlash against the rabid slash-and-burn Brexit policy we have seen coming from Rees-Mogg band of Brextremists.

Remain campaign group Open Britain detect a sea-change.

Alison McGovern MP, leading supporter of Open Britain, said:

“There is clearly no majority in Parliament for crashing out of the Customs Union. Yet the Prime Minister remains determined to do so.

“The reality is that staying in the Customs Union is vital if we are to avoid a hard border in Ireland and to maintain truly frictionless trade. But on its own it is not enough – we must also stay in the Single Market.

“Ultimately, if the Government delivers a deal that does not protect our trade with Europe and the frictionless border in Ireland, everyone has the right to keep an open mind about whether that kind of Brexit serves the national interest.”

And Eloise Todd, CEO of Best for Britain, told Left Foot Forward:

“Labour is recognising that the form of Brexit the government is serving up is not fit for purpose. However it’s not just ‘the’ government’s Brexit which won’t work for the country – ‘a’ Brexit of any variety won’t either.

“Labour should keep all options on the table, including staying in the EU.”

For now, the attention is on the liberal Tories. Just a few days ago, we published a call for the so-called ‘mutineers’ to stand up:

“Most current Conservative MPs backed Remain during the EU referendum. According to the FT’s analysis, 176 of the 317 Conservative MPs backed Remain. Surely they do not want to see a slash-and-burn Brexit that tears up our economy?

“There are sensible voices out there – some of whom have already spoken out: figures like Nicky Morgan, Justine Greening, Heidi Allen and Dr Sarah Woollaston. The Tory hard-right are organised. Perhaps it’s time for some voices of reason to get organised, too?”

It seems that – at last – they are. Hats off to them.

Josiah Mortimer is the Editor of Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter.

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