Thread by @AlbertoNardelli

A short thread. There are valid arguments for a customs union with the EU, and there are valid arguments against one. However, wherever you sit on this debate, everyone should agree that MPs, MEPs or commentators being deceitful with the British public is appalling

I spoke to Swiss customs today. This is what they told me:

- there are 16 customs stations on the border
- about 24,000 lorries cross the border each day
- most for a short time, but *every* lorry has to stop for customs declarations

The Swiss Federal Customs Administration even sent me photos. You can see quite clearly what looks a lot like the "physical infrastructure" that the UK and the EU don't want to see in Northern Ireland

Those that constantly, and all too often knowingly, parrot untruths should be ashamed. Those that consistently fail to counter untruths in the name of "balance" should realise that in reality it enables false equivalence – and in the longer term, misinformation damages democracy

And this just in from Swedish customs:

- there are 13 customs offices along the border between Norway and Sweden (7 Norwegian, 6 Swedish)

- about 750,000 trucks crossed the border in 2017. Around 400,000 had to stop to show paperwork or for controls