May narrowly avoids rebellion on customs union in crucial vote

Prime Minister Theresa May narrowly avoided a rebellion within her own ranks on Tuesday night over the EU customs union with the help of four Labour pro-Brexit MPs and a threat to call an election.

Pro-European Tories fought to keep open the option of the UK remaining in the customs union after Brexit if there was no agreement reached on a frictionless trade by January 2019 but lost 307 to 301 in the Commons vote.

May's u-turn on Monday, where she effectively caved in to the hard right of her party and ripped up her own post-Brexit trade plan, sparked anger among remainers who then tabled amendments to the Trade Bill.

Tory MP Stephen Hammond's amendment called for talks to start on joining a customs union if a free trade area had not been negotiated by 21 January.

The opposition Labour Party supports a customs union with the EU after Brexit. The government claims it would stop it from striking its own international trade deals.

Nevertheless May still faced pressure from Eurosceptics in her party which threatened to launch a leadership challenge that would send the country to the ballots if MPs supported the proposal.

There was further controversy when Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis voted with the government on the key issues, having previously abstained from earlier votes as he had been "paired" with Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson who was absent on maternity leave.

When an MP has a valid excuse for being away for a vote they are usually "paired" with an opposition MP to cancel the vote out. Swinson

Labour's right wing pro-Brexit MP Kate Hoey, who voted with the government, will now face an inquest of her own from constituency party members angry at her defection. They believe a defeat would have brought down May's government.

She is now expected to face a censure motion from party members in her south London Vauxhall seat.

Although the government won the customs union vote, it suffered a defeat later as MPs backed calls for the UK to remain under EU medicines regulations.

MPs supported an amendment that would keep the UK in the European medicines regulatory network by 305 votes to 301.

On Wednesday, May will be under pressure once again during Prime Minister's Questions, especially since rival Boris Johnson could give an expected resignation speech in which he might confirm whether he intends to challenge her.

(Writing by Frank Prenesti)