Thread by @pmdfoster

NEW - 🚨the govt need the Commons to pass legislation to impose tariffs ahead of Oct 31 ‘no deal’..or U.K. farmers and families will be left defenceless. But will MPs back this? - my latest /1

telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/…

If they don’t then as @SamuelMarcLowe tells me UK has no ability to levy tariffs, protecting farmers and industry from, for eg, steel dumping. Also removing any leverage in cutting trade deals. /2

The Dept for Int trade tells me it IS planning to lay the necessary statutory instruments before Oct 31.

But as @jl_owen of @instituteforgov observes that’s fraught with risk. Will MPs want to facilitate no deal?? /3

Before last Mar 29 deadline U.K. Govt announced temporary tariffs that exempted 87% of imports but kept levies on key vulnerable sectors - lamb, beef, cheese, cars, textiles. /4

Whitehall, I understand, is worried about what happens in SIs (about 8) don’t get assent.

Parliament hadn’t voted down an SI since 1969 - but we are living in strange times. /5

One alternative if Govts gets cold feet is to “provisionally” apply the SI, which gives you 28 days to then win a vote after Oct 31.

Would MPs leave U.K. defenceless in that world? Brexiteers may calculate not..../6

And as @nvonwestenholz of @NFUtweets warns, that wd double uncertainty for farmers and business...in an already uncertain world.

In summary: one to watch out for. 7/ENDS