THE LABOUR Party's Shadow Commons Leader Valerie Vaz has said Theresa May's Cabinet ministers should "go en masse" to the Irish border tomorrow as part of the Britsh prime minister's 'Brexit away day'.
Ministers in the British government are set to meet at the prime minister's country residence Chequers in an attempt to end bitter infighting and thrash out the white paper setting out the Tories' Brexit position.
Ms Vaz noted that Prime Minister Theresa May has yet to visit the border and told the House of Commons tomorrow would be an ideal opportunity.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom replied: "I don't think we'll have time to go to the Irish border during the course of the day tomorrow.
"Good suggestion, but possibly without our broomsticks we might struggle to get there in time."
Ms Leadsom announced that key Brexit trade legislation will return to the Commons in a fortnight.
The Trade Bill and the Taxation (Cross-border) Trade Bill, also referred to as the Customs Bill, are set to be debated by MPs on July 17 and 16 respectively.
The British government could suffer further defeats when the trade legislation returns to the House for further scrutiny, particularly with Tory MPs threatening to rebel over seeking a customs union with the EU post-Brexit.
Commons Leader Mrs Leadsom told MPs: "The provisional business for the week commencing the 16th July will include, on Monday 16th July, remaining stages of the Taxation (Cross-border) Trade Bill, Tuesday 17th July, remaining stages of the Trade Bill."
Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz later pressed Mrs Leadsom on when the government's Brexit White Paper would be published.
She asked: "Can the Leader confirm when the White Paper will be published, and could we have a statement?"
Mrs Leadsom said it would be "brought forward just as soon as we can".
"The prime minister has said before summer recess, that's too long to go."
