If Johnson adds a customs union, remainers should finally accept his deal | Simon Jenkins

Such a concession would allow all sides to honour the political objective of Brexit and end uncertainty about trade and the Irish border

Those still fighting to keep the United Kingdom in the EU are doing themselves no favours. Despite Saturday’s protests for a second referendum and Commons manoeuvring, a significant portion of the public backs the UK’s vote to leave the EU – and democracy requires it to do so.

The terms of exit previously negotiated by Theresa May were rejected by remainers, but without any coherent strategy to push that rejection to a satisfactory conclusion. The new deal from Boris Johnson is worse, but even Magna Carta was not perfect. The deal available is serviceable for withdrawal on 31 October. It should be passed and the nation put out of its misery.

On one condition. The terms of a new trading deal with Europe need not be an issue since they are up for negotiation during a transition period. Johnson played fast and loose in the deal’s political statement that supposedly governs this transition. He “hardened” it in a largely successful effort to win over his own right wing and obviate the Irish backstop. To that end he withdrew the references to a customs union and single market as they appeared in May’s abortive deal. But he conceded easement on regulatory alignments, EU nationals’ status and Labour’s demand for workers’ rights.

Johnson should now extend that easement to the proposed amendment that the upcoming negotiations include remaining in a (or the) customs union. Embracing that possibility would cut the Gordian knot of the Irish border at one stroke. It would dismantle Michael Gove’s ludicrous no-deal preparations. It would end the debilitating uncertainty surrounding trade with Europe. It would remove the economic sting from Brexit, while honouring its political objective of disengagement from “ever closer union”. The will of the British people would finally be met – in compromise terms that respected the size of the remain minority.

The sole cost to Johnson in such a concession would be Brexiters’ phantom trade deals with the rest of the world. Any detailed analysis shows such deals to be moonshine – chauvinist rhetoric never mentioned at the time of the referendum. The concession might reverse one of Johnson’s many do-or-die pledges, but what is new in that? It was only made to help Johnson beat Jeremy Hunt to the party leadership.

A customs union amendment conceded by Johnson should enable Labour to support the remainder of his withdrawal bill. Some “hard” leavers might defect, but it would be time for remainers to accept political reality. They would still have much to play for in the upcoming transition.

The spectacle of the House of Commons agreeing in such a fashion would reassure the EU. It would be greeted by the British public with a shout of relief audible the length and breadth of the land. It just needs Johnson to agree to the amendment: like Caesar back from Gaul, he could then claim his triumph.

• Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist

Contributor

Simon Jenkins

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
The Guardian view on customs borders: Northern Ireland deal highlights broken Brexit promises | Editorial
Editorial: Whether in the Irish Sea or the Channel, the legacy of separation from the single market is pointless friction and economic pain

Editorial

31, Jan, 2024 @6:30 PM

Article image
We need a Brexit deal – so why is Johnson indulging in cynical electioneering? | Simon Jenkins
The prime minister’s behaviour is shameless: he should be working to avert the catastrophe of no deal, not campaigning, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins

Simon Jenkins

05, Aug, 2019 @9:43 AM

Article image
Staying in a customs union after Brexit won’t resolve the Irish border issue | Pascal Lamy
Labour’s proposal may not be as simple as it seems, says Pascal Lamy

Pascal Lamy

12, Apr, 2019 @8:21 AM

Article image
Brexiters seem to forget that ‘no deal’ is not legally an option | Brendan Howlin
The Irish border is not just an irritation – we won’t pay the price for Brexit, says Irish Labour party leader Brendan Howlin

Brendan Howlin

09, Jul, 2018 @3:22 PM

Article image
The customs union could save Britain. Labour should support staying in | Molly Scott Cato
Remaining in the customs union post-Brexit is vital to our manufacturing sector. Labour should change tack, says Green MEP Molly Scott Cato

Molly Scott Cato

23, Jan, 2018 @12:36 PM

Article image
This Brexit bill finally buries the Conservative party of law and order | Martin Kettle
Breaking international law is a jaw-dropping move, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

Martin Kettle

09, Sep, 2020 @4:04 PM

Article image
Boris Johnson is playing politics with Northern Ireland’s ‘delicate balance’ | Matthew O’Toole
By asserting hard UK sovereignty in Northern Ireland, Johnson is risking a painfully won consensus, says former No 10 Brexit spokesperson Matthew O’Toole

Matthew O’Toole

22, Aug, 2019 @10:09 AM

Article image
Boris Johnson and I agreed on Northern Ireland. What happened to that good faith? | Leo Varadkar
The EU’s flexibility has been met by the UK government talking about scrapping the protocol and breaching international law, says Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Tánaiste

Leo Varadkar

20, May, 2022 @5:00 AM

Article image
Who says Britain can't negotiate a Brexit deal? We've got Frosty the No Man | Marina Hyde
Setting ourselves up as the country you really can’t trust seems an eccentric way of dealmaking, says Guardian columnist Marina Hyde

Marina Hyde

08, Sep, 2020 @1:57 PM

Article image
Theresa May, here’s my solution to the Brexit customs conundrum | Henry Newman
Director of Open Europe, Henry Newman, says the thinktank’s compromise approach could be the answer the government is looking for

Henry Newman

03, Jul, 2018 @12:51 PM