MPs will debate plans to create a new bespoke UK-EU customs unions, following a rare tied vote in the Commons.
A motion put forward by Liberal Democrat MP Dr Al Pinkerton calling on the government to negotiate with the EU to create a new form of customs union saw 100 MPs vote in favour – and 100 MPs vote against.
It is the first time a vote in the chamber has been tied since 2019. As per convention, when a vote is split, the speaker or the deputy speaker then casts the deciding vote.
Caroline Noakes, chairing the motion on Tuesday, said: “In accordance with precedent, I will cast the casting vote ‘aye’ to allow further debate.”
MPs will debate the motion at a second reading debate on 16 January.
Thirteen Labour backbenchers voted for the Lib Dem proposal, including senior MP Dame Meg Hillier, who chairs the Treasury select committee. Just three members of Sir Keir Starmer’s party voted against the motion.
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It follows the deputy prime minister appearing to endorse the idea of a new customs union with the EU last week, despite him admitting that it was not government policy.
Speaking to the News Agents podcast, David Lammy said: “It’s self-evident that leaving the European Union badly damaged our economy, took us out of an important marketplace and created serious friction, that untruths were being peddled by those that thought exiting the EU would be a good thing.”
Asked repeatedly if he would like to see the UK in a customs union, he said: “That is not currently our policy. That’s not currently where we are.
“But you can see countries like Turkey with a customs union seemingly benefiting and seeing growth in their economy, and, again, that’s self-evident.”
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Ministers have since dismissed the deputy PM’s comments.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told Sky News on Sunday: “We just conducted three trade deals this year, and that’s a pretty big difficulty if you’re going to join a customs union. And they were really important – with the United States, with India, [and] the European Union itself.”
A spokesperson for the prime minister said last week: “There’s no credible economic vision for Britain not positioning us as an open trading economy.
“We have to be grown up about trade-offs. We have redefined bonds with EU, and stuck to our red lines.”
These “red lines” refer to a pledge in the Labour 2024 general election manifesto, which stated: “There will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.”
Reacting to the vote, party leader Sir Ed Davey said: “A customs union with the EU is the single biggest step the government could take to grow our economy, put money back into people’s pockets and generate billions for our public services.”
The British public voted to leave the EU by 52%-48% in 2016, and the UK formally exited the bloc in 2020.
