Ministers accused of ‘making things up as they go’ over Brexit border plans

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Ministers accused of ‘making things up as they go’ after Liz Truss warns in leaked letter the Government’s post-Brexit border plans could be vulnerable to a WTO legal challenge

  • Liz Truss said in leaked letter post-Brexit border plans could face legal challenge
  • Ms Truss apparently sent the leaked letter to Michael Gove and Rishi Sunak 
  • Labour said the letter showed that ministers were ‘making things up as they go’ 

By Jack Maidment, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Ministers have been accused of ‘making things up as they go’ after it emerged Liz Truss warned in a leaked letter that the UK’s post-Brexit border arrangements could be vulnerable to a legal challenge. 

The International Trade Secretary said in a letter to Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove and Chancellor Rishi Sunak that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) could object to the current proposals. 

She is also said to have raised concerns over potential smuggling risks which could be triggered by the plans.

The Business Insider website said Ms Truss had set out her ‘key areas of concerns’ in the letter, suggesting the UK would ‘be vulnerable to WTO challenge’. 

This is because the current border policy would effectively temporarily give the EU preferential treatment in the absence of a trade deal. 

Labour said the leaked letter showed the Government’s ‘lack of awareness of the real world consequences of border policies they’ve had four years to develop’. 

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss is said to have raised concerns about the UK’s post-Brexit border plans in a letter to Michael Gove and Rishi Sunak

Mr Gove backtracked last month over plans to immediately introduce full border checks when the transition period ends on December 31 and instead said Britain would phase in the changes over six months.

But Ms Truss was said to have asked for ‘assurances’ that the UK will deliver full border controls at ports by July next year and that plans are in place from January ‘to mitigate the risk of goods being circumvented from ports implementing full controls’.

Ms Truss also reportedly warned of angering unionists in Northern Ireland by delivering the ‘high-risk’ dual tariff system on all imports to the nation on January 1.

‘This is very concerning as this may call into question NI’s place in the UK customs territory,’ she said, according to the report.

The Government did not deny the letter’s veracity, and a spokesman added: ‘We do not comment on leaks.’

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves said: ‘This email confirms fears that several ministers have been making things up as they go with a lack of awareness of the real world consequences of border policies they’ve had four years to develop.

‘At the general election, people were promised an ‘oven-ready’ deal to be implemented by the end of this year, not chaos, confusion and a further risk to jobs.’

The Prime Minister’s full border operating plans are expected to be published this month.