Brexit 1) Juncker “claims May begged him for help” at Brexit dinner

“Jean-Claude Juncker claimed Theresa May “begged” him for help during a private Brexit dinner in which she appeared “tormented” with “rings under her eyes”, according to reports in the German press. The European Commission president’s office has been accused of leaking the unflattering account of the meal, which saw Mrs May described as “despondent”. In the highly personal account of last Monday’s dinner, Mrs May was said to seemed “anxious”, “tormented” and “discouraged”, according to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).” – Daily Telegraph

• And that she looked “despondent” – Daily Express
• But who leaked the story? – Guardian

Editorial:

• Everything the EU is doing vindicates UK vote to leave – Daily Telegraph

Comment:

• Will Germany help UK? – Sebastian Payne, FT
• “Now is the autumn of Europe’s discontent” – Mark Almond, Daily Mail

Brexit 2) Starmer says Labour will join with Conservative rebels over Withdrawal Bill concessions

“Conservative rebels welcomed Labour’s support in demanding concessions on Brexit legislation as business groups urged the government to secure a transitional deal “as close as possible to the status quo”. As David Davis, the Brexit secretary, prepared to travel to Paris in an attempt to unlock the talks, Sir Keir Starmer, his Labour shadow, said that the party would join forces with pro-European Tories to force concessions on the EU Withdrawal Bill and demanded significant changes to the legislation. The bill, which transfers European rules and regulations to the British statute book, is yet to return to the Commons for amendments despite MPs having expected to resume debate on the legislation straight after the party conferences” – The Times

• He “sets red lines” – Daily Mail
• Labour has “identified” 12 amendments they could support – FT
• Raab criticises Corbyn’s “games” – Daily Express

Editorial:

• Labour isn’t a credible opposition – The Times 

Comment:

• The Remainers’ unholy alliance – Leo McKinstry, Daily Express 

>Yesterday: WATCH: Thornberry – “I think we are heading for no deal… we will stop it”

Brexit 3) Fox allies say he wants US trade deal to focus on services

“UK trade secretary Liam Fox wants a post-Brexit trade deal with the US to focus on the services sector, amid growing cabinet and business concern in Britain over an accord covering goods and agriculture. Mr Fox’s allies say that a deal on services with the US is the big prize, acknowledging that an ambitious agreement in other areas could lead to bitter disputes with Washington over food imports, such as chicken dipped in chlorinated water. One ally said that ultimately a trade deal on goods might be of “little value” and that the challenge was to unlock a services agreement, including financial services, adding: “That’s the big one.”” – FT

Brexit 4) Rudd “plans” for EU migrants to continue to come as long as they have jobs

“EU migrants would be able to come to Britain after Brexit as long as they have a job under Home Office plans. The new regime is being pushed by Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who wants to keep migration rules as simple as possible after the UK leaves the EU. It could result in European nationals facing removal if they cannot find work – but her proposals would mean no overall cap on the numbers arriving. Miss Rudd wants to permit any EU national who can find a job the right to live and work in Britain.” – Daily Mail

• MEPs tell her her suggestion that EU nationals should register post-Brexit is “illegal” – Guardian

Hammond “warned by Cabinet colleagues” about potential budget ambush

“Philip Hammond has been warned by cabinet colleagues that he faces an ambush on the budget from Tories who want him out. Senior government figures fear that the chancellor has become so toxic that he does not have sufficient authority to get difficult measures through the Commons. He has been told that some of the budget ideas that he has suggested, such as squeezing cash from pensioners, would cause a Tory backbench revolt. Another significant failure to pass budget measures could destabilise the government.” – The Times 

• There are growing criticisms of measures including upping tax for pensioners – Daily Express

Comment:

• If he won’t borrow, he should go – Tim Montgomerie, Guardian

Javid says Government should up borrowing to invest in housebuilding

“The government should borrow more to invest in building hundreds of thousands of homes and infrastructure to ease the housing crisis, a minister said. Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, said that taking advantage of low interest rates to fund new homes would be the right thing to do to grapple with “the biggest barrier to social progress in our country today”. He suggested that an announcement could be made in the budget on November 22. Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One yesterday, Mr Javid said: “We are looking at new investments and there will be announcements.”” – The Times

• He wants increases in “all types of home” – Guardian
• And £50bn pledged – The Sun
• He “hints at change in thinking” – Independent

Editorial:

• This is just what we need – The Sun

>Yesterday: WATCH: Javid – Housing “is the biggest barrier to social progress in our country today”

Johnson to say US President has duty to protect Americans from North Korea

“Donald Trump has an “absolute duty” to prepare for military intervention against North Korea in the face of the mounting nuclear threat posed by the regime, Boris Johnson will say. The Foreign Secretary will warn that Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, is on the verge of acquiring that capability of “make good his threat” to reduce New York to “ashes”. It comes after the US President yesterday said that the US is “totally prepared” for war with North Korea as he increased the US military presence in North Korea. He has previously threatened to unleash “fire and fury”.” – Daily Telegraph

• He calls for “diplomatic solution” – Guardian
• And will urge Trump to stay with Iran deal – The Times
• Speaking of “toughness but engagement” – Independent
• He will praise Tillerson – The Sun

Stewart confirms policy that “nearly all” British IS fighters should be killed in Syria

“Nearly all Britons who join Islamic State should be killed, the government made clear yesterday in a significant toughening of its line. Rory Stewart, a Foreign Office minister, confirmed a policy that could result in hundreds of British jihadist volunteers in Syria facing death rather than being spared to be put through the courts or stripped of citizenship. His harsh language followed a warning two weeks ago by Sir Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, that Britons joining Isis had made themselves legitimate targets for RAF or American missiles.” – The Times

• He says they’ve lost allegiance – Guardian
• This follows Fallon warning – Daily Telegraph
• Meanwhile, FCO UN submission suggests term change to “pregnant people” – Daily Telegraph

Comment:

• Our aid can help rebuild Syria – Priti Patel, The Sun

Purves: Government should apologise for “nasty” Universal Credit

“Any government will have detractors. But only a recklessly inattentive one afflicts its supporters with acute embarrassment and hands ammunition to its foes. Even with the massive Brexit distraction, it is odd to watch a precarious Tory government providing onlookers with proof that it is just as nasty as its enemies claim. If you try to believe that Theresa May and her party want the best for us all, it is baffling. The introduction of universal credit (UC) for people of working age was designed to replace a complex web of benefit payments with something simpler, and more advantageous to workers.” – The Times

• Government “edging” towards u-turn – Guardian

Editorial:

• UC is a “laudable goal” with big problems – FT

More Conservatives

• “Senior Conservatives” considering Halfon idea to change Party logo to ladder – Daily Telegraph
• May has increased her tweeting – The Times 
• Newspaper poll shows people want reshuffle – Independent
• May considered manifesto ban on public sector strikes – The Times
• Why Davidson could be next – John Rentoul, Independent

>Today:

• Peter Bould in Comment: A reshuffle may be coming – and the Cabinet needs more northern MPs
• Public Appointments: Calling Tories: New public appointments announced. Chair of the Oil and Gas Authority – and more

Sturgeon’s advisor Stiglitz warns her against “citizens income”

“Nicola Sturgeon’s top economic adviser has warned her against a universal citizen’s income, saying public money would be better targeted at the poor and on creating jobs. Nobel prize winner Professor Joseph Stiglitz said he worried a citizen’s income would eat up scarce funds and distract from the bigger priority of well-paid employment. Prof Stiglitz, who is based at Columbia University in New York, is the highest profile member of Ms Sturgeon’s Council of Economic Advisers.” – Herald

• She’s already admitted “the idea might not be feasible” – Daily Express

>Today: ToryDiary: Spain could learn from the UK’s handling of the SNP

Northern Ireland

• SF accuses UUP of opposing Belfast agreement – Belfast News Letter

Heffer: Lords current constitution is “unfeasible”

“If one assumes the House is a valuable part of the legislature – and it certainly has potential to be – then its present constitution is unfeasible. First Tony Blair, and then David Cameron, went on binges of peerage creations; Mr Cameron put 57 people in the Lords in nine months between May 2015 and February 2016, with 13 more in his heavily criticised resignation list. He had already put an unprecedented 236 in during his first five years in Downing Street, partly egged on by Nick Clegg, and with utter disregard for the practical consequences. Lord Fowler, the Lord Speaker, is now trying to clear up the mess. It isn’t just numbers that are the problem: it is the quality of some of those in the Lords, who are unequal to the responsibilities of being a legislator in a revising chamber.” – Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday: WATCH: Strathclyde – Brexit “is not the issue for the House of Lords to demonstrate its strength”

News in Brief

• Do people want the housing market fixed? – Oliver Wiseman, CapX
• Could this be next for Osborne? – Iain Martin, Reaction
• No deal, no fee – Bernard Jenkin, BrexitCentral
• Does the Weinstein case signal the end of women being ignored? Jia Tolentino – New Yorker
• My thoughts on Pullman’s new book – Rowan Williams, New Statesman