CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves’s dash for growth has hit fresh turbulence as ministers ruled out joining a European customs arrangement but announced moves to scrap planning restrictions on major projects.

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said the government did not currently have any plans to join the Pan-Euro Mediterranean Convention, which allows tariff-free trade in materials for manufacturing supply chains across Europe and north Africa.

EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, who leads on the bloc’s links with Britain, made the suggestion following PM Sir Keir Starmer’s stated aim of “resetting” trade links across the Channel.

However, as with the youth exchange scheme which Britain has rejected joining, Downing Street is terrified of anything that might look like reopening the EU question in British politics.

Sir Keir announced that Labour was now “taking on the nimbys” by reducing the right to appeal against planning decisions in major infrastructure projects, including airports, railways and nuclear power stations.

“For too long, blockers have had the upper hand in legal challenges, using our court processes to frustrate growth,” he said, claiming the move would “take the brakes off Britain.”

But London Mayor Sadiq Khan will slam the brakes back on with a legal challenge should Sir Keir revive plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport, a move which could split its own government.

Ms Reeves, wooing the wealthy in Davos, had indicated support for the controversial runway, saying that growth was “obviously the most important thing.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, the government’s main green voice, will certainly take a different view.