Johnson points finger at ex-ministers over No Deal planning leak…

“Boris Johnson has accused Remain-supporting former ministers of leaking details of no-deal planning in an attempt to damage Brexit negotiations. A secret Whitehall dossier known as Operation Yellowhammer, revealed over the weekend, included warnings that Britain could face shortfalls of fresh food, fuel and medicines. It also suggested that there could be an increase in public disorder, delays at airports and a hard border with Ireland. A Downing Street source pointed the finger at a group of ex-ministers known as the “Remain alliance”, which is led by the former chancellor Philip Hammond.” – The Times

• Hammond denies he’s the source – Daily Telegraph
• Downing St ‘furious’ at release of paper – The Guardian
• Leaked document paints stark picture – FT

More:

• Business groups admit many are ‘ill-prepared’ – FT
• Government urged to bring forward PR blitz to counter ‘scaremongering’ – Daily Telegraph
• Talks underway to stop EU ‘strangling’ Gibraltar – The Sun

>Today: ToryDiary: A No Deal Brexit. “It’s not going to be the end of the world. But it’s not going to be a walk in the park either.”

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Gove – The No Deal Brexit “Yellowhammer” document covers “absolutely the worst case”

…amidst rumours that up to 40 MPs could be backing them

“As many as 40 Tory MPs are now backing a bid led by ex-Cabinet ministers Philip Hammond and David Gauke to stop Britain leaving the European Union without a deal on Oct 31. Sources in the group – dubbed the ‘Gauke-ward Squad’ – say the numbers of MPs who now support the rebellion has jumped from 21 to nearly 40 after details of the group emerged last week. The size of the potential rebellion will increase pressure on Boris Johnson to avoid putting the question of the UK leaving the EU to a vote of MPs before the UK is scheduled to leave on October 31. Mr Johnson and his team are adamant that the best way of securing a new deal with Brussels is to make clear that the UK is ready and willing to leave without a deal.” – Daily Telegraph

• Speaker holding talks with anti-Brexit MPs – Daily Mail

Opposition:

• Labour leader says he will do ‘everything necessary’ to stop No Deal – FT
• Liberal Democrats to ‘keep options open’ about swift return to the EU – The Times
• ‘Outcry’ as arch-Remainer Miller vows to fight no-deal exit… – Daily Express
• …as she claims the Government has accepted it can’t prorogue Parliament – Daily Mail

Comment:

• Now the cost is known, MPs must do whatever it takes – Matthew d’Ancona, The Guardian
• Brexiteers fear Clarke still has an eye on Number Ten – Asa Bennett, Daily Telegraph
• Wake up, Remainers: Brexit is happening – Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun
• Brexit doublethink is blinding us to the facts – Alex Massie, The Times

>Yesterday:

• ToryDiary: I’m a GNU. How do you do?
• Video: WATCH: Rifkind – enough Tory MPs “might” vote against Boris Johnson

Johnson to take ‘uncompromising’ line with Merkel and Macron

“Boris Johnson will make his debut as UK prime minister on the world stage this week, first by travelling to Berlin for talks with chancellor Angela Merkel and probably also to Paris to meet President Emmanuel Macron, before appearing at the G7 summit of world leaders in south-west France. Senior officials in Downing Street acknowledge it will be a “big week” for Mr Johnson as he presents his vision for the future of Britain… Mr Johnson will deliver an uncompromising message: ignore the chatter about parliament moving to stop a no-deal Brexit, the UK is leaving on October 31 with or without a deal. Mindful of how MPs undermined his predecessor Theresa May’s negotiating stance on Brexit, the prime minister hopes to leave the EU in no doubt about his determination to leave the bloc.” – FT

• Prime Minister to EU chiefs: we will not back down – Daily Express

Senior Brexiteers urge him to call an election

“Senior Brexiteers have urged Boris Johnson to call a snap election in a bid to head off Jeremy Corbyn and the Remainer MPs preparing to topple him next month. Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, has said that the Prime Minister should call the Labour leader’s bluff and go to the country before opposition MPs and Tory rebels have a chance to bring him down. With Mr Corbyn widely expected to table a motion of no confidence when MPs return in September, Mr Duncan Smith said that Mr Johnson could outflank him by calling a snap election. He told The Sun that calling an election before MPs have a chance to vote down the Government would hand Mr Johnson the advantage and allow him to frame the poll as a vote to save Brexit.” – Daily Telegraph

• Today programme a ‘waste of time’, ministers told – The Times

>Today: Audio: Moggcast Special: Annunziata Rees-Mogg – “The Conservative Party needs to be reminded that Leave won” Continue to all today’s Newslinks