'A brazen attempt to rejoin the EU!' Camilla Tominey clashes with Liberal Democrat MP over bid to join customs union

The Liberal Democrats, headed up by Sir Ed Davey, is urging Sir Keir Starmer to negotiate a customs union with the EU, which they say will encourage growth.

But, after the UK voted to leave in 2016, Camilla asked: "In what way is this either liberal or democratic?"

Ms Smart, who acts as the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokeswoman, explained: "This is the biggest lever that the Prime Minister could pull to generate growth in the UK.

"It would reduce all that red tape that leaving the EU brought about leaving the single market, leaving the customs union brought about, made it harder for UK businesses to trade with our European neighbours.

"It would generate growth in a way that no other measure would take. And so we're calling on particularly backbench Labour MPs to support our efforts."

Earlier today, the Prime Minister vowed to bring the UK closer to EU markets "if it's in our national interest".

He added it would be "better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment" to continue to nurture trade deals with India and the US.

However, he refused to confirm whether No10 planned to stay committed to his party's 2024 manifesto promises to not rejoin the EU single market or customs union.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have lambasted the Prime Minister for using Brexit as a scapegoat for Britain's financial woes.

But, while the Government launches a series of initiatives to tie Britain closer to the EU, Ms Smart commented: "We're calling on them to support us because we hope we can convince the Government that this is the right thing to do.

However, Camilla appeared shocked at the Hazel Grove MP's claim, simply responding: "This is completely anti-democratic.

"We had the largest mandate in history for Brexit back in 2016. Why on earth are you trying to reverse it?

"The majority voted to leave the customs union and leave the single market. So this is just a brazen attempt to rejoin the EU, at least a part of it. In what way does this honour the referendum result?

"It betrays it, doesn't it?"

Ms Smart replied: "This is a really pragmatic step to rebuild our relationship with the European Union. There are countries out there I'm thinking about - Turkey is a really good example - who have a customs union with the European Union.

"They're not members of the EU, but they've taken a really pragmatic, sensible decision that getting rid of red tape for businesses, making trade easier, boost growth and makes it much, much easier for the country to grow so that we can afford all those public services that all the GB News viewers value dearly."

But Ms Smart's response did not satisfy Camilla, with the GB News star having to pause the MP for clarity.

"Hang on a minute," she started. "We would no longer be able to set our own tariffs, we wouldn't be able to negotiate our own deals."

She continued: "We'd be subject to deals negotiated by others that may harm us rather than benefit us.

"We're going to have to reject all of the trade deals we've already signed, will be a rule taker, not a rule maker. In what world could this benefit Britain?"

Ms Smart clarified that a "bespoke" customs union with the bloc would be creating, rather than joining an existing body.

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