Theresa May proposed a UK-EU customs territory and everybody made the same joke
With Brexit negotiations at something of a road block over how to cope with a Northern Irish border with the Republic of Ireland, Theresa May has been racking her brain for a solution. The idea of a customs union has been tabled and discounted already, but the Prime Minister has come up with an alternative plan – not a customs union, but a “UK-EU joint customs territory”, which is obviously completely different.
The political editor of Sky News, Faisal Islam, shared the news.
PM proposes “legally binding” joint UK-EU joint customs territory to help break impasse
— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) October 22, 2018
PM quote about “Temporary Customs Arrangement”
“we must make the commitment to a temporary UK-EU joint customs territory legally binding, so the Northern Ireland only proposal is no longer needed.
This would not only protect relations North-South, but also, vitally, East-West”— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) October 22, 2018
He also checked the definition of a customs union.
Of course at times like this we all reach for GATT Article XXIV (8)
“A customs union shall be understood to mean the substitution of a single customs territory for two or more customs territories…” pic.twitter.com/fdineyC732
— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) October 22, 2018
He wasn’t the only person to see right through the ploy. These 11 pointed out the elephant in the room.
1.
"Hello, EU? I've slightly retitled that thing you suggested a hundred fucking times and now for some reason find it acceptable"
"Oh good, glad you've finally caved."
"No, this was my idea. England to the rescue, yet a-fucking-gain." https://t.co/S191NlVFhD— James Felton (@JimMFelton) October 22, 2018
2.
You could even call it a sort of "Union" with our European neighbours. https://t.co/NyM932wrmZ
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 22, 2018
3.
Some sort of, customs union if you will. https://t.co/5SnqCiPnyF
— Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) October 22, 2018
4.
I love how she’s changed the name “union” to “territory” https://t.co/A3JM7T4jVt
— Emma Kennedy (@EmmaKennedy) October 23, 2018
5.
Great idea. Now admit that we’re in it forever and for once in your miserable premiership tell the truth https://t.co/NDWpa10q9b
— Jonathan Lis (@jonlis1) October 22, 2018
