Brexit 1) May suggests that EU nationals “won’t get special treatment” post-Brexit

“EU migrants will not get special treatment after Brexit, Theresa May has suggested, ahead of the launch of a major report into immigration on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said British people voted for a fairer immigration system as she gave the strongest hint yet that the Government will implement a policy which treats all migrants the same no matter where they come from. Her remarks appear to suggest a row over what the future migration system may look like has been settled, amid claims Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, was campaigning behind the scenes for EU nationals to be given preferential treatment under the new rules. But speaking to the BBC’s Panorama programme Mrs May said: “What I’m very clear about is the message from the British people was very simple.” – Daily Telegraph

• She’ll “unveil” new immigration system at the party conference – Daily Mail 
• Javid suggests he wants “limits and visas for EU citizens” – The Times

Brexit 2) Brussels to rebuff Gove comment by “demanding” that May “assures any deal won’t be unpicked”

“The European Union is insisting on cast iron guarantees that Britain will not attempt to reopen the terms of any Brexit deal after it has been signed, confidential diplomatic notes reveal. The Times has learnt that, in a rebuff to Michael Gove, Brussels is preparing to demand that Theresa May makes “credible” assurances that any deal will not be unpicked by her successor. Mr Gove, the environment secretary, claimed at the weekend that a future prime minister could “choose to alter” the relationship between Britain and the EU. The comments were an attempt to assuage the concerns of Brexiteers that signing up to a Chequers-style plan would shackle Britain to European regulations indefinitely.” – The Times

• No 10 “slapped him down” too – The Sun

Comment:

• May isn’t being honest about Chequers – Rachel Sylvester, The Times
• Gove was right about it – Simon Jenkins, Guardian

Brexit 3) Raab says it’s EU’s turn: UK has “compromised” enough already with Chequers

“Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has said that the UK has compromised enough with its Chequers plan and has demanded Brussels becomes more flexible and comes up with “credible alternatives”. The comments come at a time when there is increasing pressure on leaders to make a deal at the summit in Salzburg, which will be the first time that EU leaders have met together since the Chequers Brexit proposal. Mr Raab has said that the Salzburg summit will be an “important milestone”. In an interview with top European papers, including Die Welt, Mr Raab said: “We made compromises and we showed ambition – and we do need to see that matched on the EU side.” – Daily Express

• EU diplomats say more “shifting” is needed on UK position – Daily Express

>Today: Henry Newman’s column: Now the Government must promote Chequers – which, though not perfect, is at least practicable

Brexit 4) Hammond says “no deal” would risk UK’s economic repairs of past ten years

“A messy Brexit in which Britain leaves the European Union without a deal could undo ten years of hard work spent fixing the economy, Philip Hammond has said. As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released the results of its annual health check of the economy, the chancellor said that he was confident the two sides would “reach an agreement this autumn” but that a no-deal Brexit was “not impossible”. “Leaving without a deal would put at risk the substantial progress the British people have made over the past ten years in repairing our economy,” he said. “That is why it is so important for people up and down this country that we reach a negotiated agreement on our future relationship over the coming weeks.”” – The Times

• Rees-Mogg criticises him for comments – Daily Express
• Meanwhile, IMF says Brexit has affected real incomes, and could do more so in case of “disorderly scenario” – Daily Telegraph
• SNP says May’s “my deal or no deal” is a “reckless false choice” – Herald
• Merkel says “UK must suffer a little bit” – Daily Express
• And Brexit select committee report’s conclusions divide Brexiters – The Times
• The report warns of “serious consequences” – FT

Editorial:

• Hammond “blundering” is “sabotaging” Brexit – The Sun

Comment:

• No, it’s the Brexiteers who are “threatening” Brexit – Robert Shrimsley, FT

>Today: ToryDiary: How to measure – and vanquish – poverty? A new answer to an old problem

Brexit 5) DUP reiterates its opposition to NI being “cut adrift from rest of UK”

“The DUP has restated its opposition to any deal which would leave Northern Ireland “cut adrift from the rest of the UK”, amid reports that the EU intends to put fresh proposals on the table for how Brexit should look. In a statement, DUP MEP Diane Dodds said while it remains to be seen what any such plan would look like, she warned it could be “simply intended to dress up existing elements of its plan”. Her party strongly opposes this for constitutional reasons, saying it “would see Northern Ireland remain tied to EU rules”. In July, DUP MP Sammy Wilson said issues around the post-Brexit EU-UK Irish border could be handled “using existing technology and administrative arrangements” (though later that month Theresa May said “no technology solution to address these issues has been designed yet, or implemented anywhere in the world”).” – Belfast News Letter

• And calls Barnier plan “null” – The Sun

More Brexit 

• Downing Street launches Chequers explainer video – Guardian
• Spain-Gibraltar argument could “complicate” Brexit negotiations – The Sun

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: May – “The White Paper represents a considerable shift in our position. It is now for the EU to respond.”

Javid and Williamson have “had new pro-May PPSs enforced on them”

“Downing Street was last night accused of “paranoia” for replacing troublesome Cabinet ministers’ key MP aides with loyalists. It has emerged that No10 quietly changed key ministers’ Parliamentary Private Secretaries – MPs who serve as a link to the Commons and build support on the backbenches. Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson — both seen as potential challengers to the PM — have had new PPSs enforced on them. Mr Williamson was described as “furious” when stripped of outspoken aide Anne-Marie Trevelyan without forewarning while on a trip to Afghanistan. Ms Trevelyan was moved to the Department for Education and replaced at the Ministry of Defence by rookie MP Trudy Harrison. And Mr Javid was given No10 loyalist Simon Hoare as his new PPS.” – The Sun

Comment:

• Davidson’s honesty would make her a great leader – Stephen Pollard, Daily Express

>Today: Video: WATCH: May on her future. “It’s the future of people in the UK that matters.”

>Yesterday: ToryDiary: The radical, anti-establishment, change-focused election launch speech drafted for May – but which she never delivered. Full text

Hancock considering “auto enrolment” social care fund

“Workers could have their pay docked to pay into a new social care fund, the health secretary has suggested. The new insurance system would be modelled on “auto enrolment” pensions, where payments would be automatically deducted by employers unless a person asks to opt out. People who made payments could either have all their future care costs met by the fund or, more likely, would benefit from a cap that would mean they did not have to pay care bills above a certain level. Those who chose to opt out would be liable for the full costs of their care needs in later life, as under the current system, even if they had to sell their house to do so.” – The Times

Truss: We need to stand up against attacks on Anglo-American capitalism

“The importance of our relationship with America cannot be understated. With Anglo-American capitalism increasingly under attack, those who believe in the power of free markets and enterprise to create wealth and social progress must stand up and be counted and champion our way of life. Because though the Left might not like it, Anglo-American free enterprise has been the single best generator of wealth and opportunity in history. Britain and the US remain the Wild West for ideas, where pioneers push each other towards ever greater heights in the white heat of free enterprise. No one knows their place, no one fears failure and no one is ashamed of success. There’s a reason why world-changing technologies such as the smartphone come from countries which encourage freedom.” – Daily Telegraph

• She will use US speech to call for May to be more economically liberal, “like Thatcher” – The Sun
• Meanwhile, UK and US economists join together to plan ideal trade agreement – The Sun

More Conservatives

• May “sickened” by antisemitism – The Times
• Hancock says parents should be strict about sweets, and that retailers should help – Daily Telegraph
• Ellwood says public should stand up to terrorists, like he did – The Times
• Tory MPs argue over fracking – FT
• May film shows her watching TV quiz – Daily Express

Comment:

• Could it “possibly be” that Osborne was a good chancellor? – William Hague, Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday: 

• Local Government: Who is endorsing whom to be the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London?
• MPsEtc: Selection news: Shortlists revealed for Ipswich, and Warwick & Leamington

>Today: 

• Penny Mordaunt in Local Government: London has some serious problems. It needs a serious candidate – namely, Andrew Boff
• Bob Seely in Comment: Yes, Brexit and leadership are important. But so’s everything else. Here are some ideas for the future

Other parties

• Bailey criticises Labour for “procrastinating” over sexual harassment report publication – Guardian
• Corbyn to “get involved” in reselection debate – The Times
• Miller says she doesn’t want to join the LibDems. While at their conference – The Times

New Anglo-French agreement in “scallop wars”

“There were fresh hopes of an end to the conflict between Cornish fishermen and their French counterparts, dubbed the “scallop wars”, on Monday night after it was announced that the two sides had come to a new agreement. Vessels from the two nations clashed over the summer in a dispute about access to fishing grounds in the Baie de Seine, north of Normandy. The French and British governments announced that a deal had been reached in early September, but those hopes were dashed last Thursday when talks broke down. Now it has been announced that another agreement has been reached. Under its terms, UK vessels of less than 15 metres would continue to be able to take scallops from the waters, but larger boats would cease activities in the Baie de Seine from Tuesday until the end of 30 October.” – Guardian

News in Brief

• Sky is wrong about TV debates – James Snell, CapX
• LibDem arithmetic – Stephen Bush, New Statesman
• It’s right to “refuse to back EU censure of Orban” – Brendan O’Neill, Spectator
• We’ll find out soon about Kavanaugh – John Cassidy, New Yorker
• Picturing ancient Rome – Keith Miller, TLS