LIBERAL Democrat MP, Wera Hobhouse, has repeated a call for closer ties to the EU to support families and businesses struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

The Bath MP’s comments come as an amendment to the King’s Speech from her party, calling for negotiations on a closer trading relationship with the EU, was voted down in May.

In December, minister Chris Bryant openly recognised the severe economic damage caused by the Conservative’s Brexit deal, yet declined to commit to exploring a new UK-EU customs union.

The Bath MP highlighted a House of Commons Library analysis showing that Brexit is costing the UK Treasury £250 million every single day in lost tax revenue. In response, Minister Chris Bryant agreed with Mrs Hobhouse, saying that Brexit had been “a self-inflicted shock”, noting a 4 percent fall in productivity, a 15 percent drop in trade, and 16,000 fewer UK firms now exporting to Europe.

However the Minister offered no commitment to examine a customs union or any stronger trade arrangement to reverse the damage.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, said: “Families in Bath are still paying a daily Brexit premium on their shopping, their energy bills and their livelihoods.

“We’ve seen ministers, and even those bidding for Labour leadership, finally admitting the scale of the harm caused by the botched Brexit deal - yet the Government still refuses to take the obvious next step of agreeing a new bespoke UK-EU customs union.

“A customs union with the EU is the most immediate, practical step we can take to ease the cost-of-living crisis, and Bath deserves better than a Labour Party too timid to act.

“This would cut red tape, boost exports and help repair the economic hit that is costing the UK £250 million every day. The Government must now stop dodging the issue and start acting in the national interest.”