A DECISION to support staying only in a customs union would cost the region £2.2 billion a year and more than 300,000 jobs across the UK by 2030.

The figures are based on a report prepared by Cambridge Econometrics on the difference in growth forecasts for a scenario in which the UK stays within the Customs Union and EEA.

At the same time, new polling conducted by Opinium shows Labour voters favour staying in the Single Market by a ratio of almost three to one. The survey shows 55 per cent of Labour voters want to stay in the Single Market, while just one in five supports the party leadership’s official position.

Last week, the Telegraph & Argus reported how fewer EU citizens are applying for National Insurance numbers.

In the 12 months up to March this year 2,135 people from the EU registered for NI numbers.

In the year before June 2016, the month of the controversial referendum, 2,924 people registered, 789 more than in the latest period.