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Soft Brexit Tories Urge May to Listen to Business on Customs

Soft Brexit Tories Urge May to Listen to Business on Customs

(Bloomberg) -- A group of 46 lawmakers in Theresa May’s Conservative Party has thrown its weight behind businesses lobbying for a Brexit deal that helps companies maintain easy trade links with Europe.

The Financial Times reported that the letter urged a deal that has “our trading, enterprising and innovative businesses and their employees at its heart.” May’s office confirmed the letter, as did two of the lawmakers who signed it.

It’s a sign that the side of May’s party that wants to stay close to the European Union could be limbering up for a fight. The pro-Brexit wing of the Conservatives have long been vocal, regularly sending letters with as many as 60 signatures urging the prime minister to take a hard line in talks.

Without a majority in Parliament, May has to try to find an arrangement that will keep both wings of the party onside, despite their deep disagreements. On Friday she’ll set out her new proposal for a post-Brexit customs arrangement to her Cabinet.

To contact the reporters on this story: Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net;Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Flavia Krause-Jackson at fjackson@bloomberg.net, Emma Ross-Thomas

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