“Ministers are preparing to rebuff the Irish government and insist on the need for a customs border between the north and south of the island after Brexit. In a further sign of division between London and Dublin, the government is expected to rule out demands by the Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, for ministers to consider alternatives to their current approach to the border. Mr Varadkar has publicly called for Theresa May to consider staying in the EU customs union after Brexit and Simon Coveney, the foreign minister, has privately urged the London government to consider a new customs border in the Irish Sea to maintain free movement across Ireland itself.” – The Times (£)
More:
>Yesterday: Charlie Elphicke MP in Comment: Ready on Day One to trade with the world
“First Secretary of State Damian Green risked infuriating Nicola Sturgeon yesterday by suggesting the SNP is marching Scotland over a “cliff edge” on Brexit. He said refusing to back the Government’s EU withdrawal bill in a row over fishing and agriculture powers would leave huge holes in Scotland’s statute book. And he predicted the Nationalists would ultimately see sense and back down… Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr Green said one possible result of Scottish MSPs refusing to grant consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill would be that it doesn’t apply in Scotland. He suggested this could mean there is nothing to replace a raft of Brussels rules, which will no longer be valid after Brexit.” – The Sun
“Ministers have been accused by the government’s former chief legal officer of leaving a “big hole” in the fundamental rights of UK citizens after Brexit. Dominic Grieve, who was attorney-general from 2010-14, was responding to revelations in The Times yesterday that ministers intend to ban the public from suing the government for damages after Brexit. The change in the law, contained in the European Union repeal bill, would result in ministers being able to escape paying financial penalties to those affected by the government’s failure to adhere to safe pollution levels.” – The Times (£)
More:
Editorial:
“It’s time to dig beneath the nonsense about nannies and double-breasted pyjamas. Mr Rees-Mogg is more than a possible leadership contender: he and his claques are in contention for the soul of the Conservative Party. Unless what he represents is confounded, conservatism’s future as a unified political force is in peril. Allow me therefore to look in some depth at his brilliantly camouflaged progress so far… Jacob Rees-Mogg is now the principal bidder for the moral and ideological leadership of the younger generation of the Tory right. Under the radar he is better prepared and more serious than either the media or his party have yet realised.” – The Times (£)
“A controversial increase in stamp duty was a “mistake” and must be reversed so the Tories can demonstrate that they are the party of home ownership and can win the next election, a former adviser to David Cameron and an architect of the policy says. Alex Morton, who served as a housing and planning adviser in Downing Street, said that cuts to stamp duty – which has been dubbed a “tax on moving” – would send the “right signal” to both young and older voters. In an article for The Daily Telegraph he highlights the fact that the Conservatives have never won a majority in an election without a significant offer on home ownership.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: How Hammond could raise his ratings
“Cultural sensitivities must not be allowed to deter work aimed at uncovering child sex abuse, the home secretary has said. Amber Rudd spoke after the convictions of 17 men and one woman three days ago for the sexual abuse of under-age girls in Newcastle upon Tyne. Her intervention came as Jeremy Wright, the attorney-general, faced calls to review the sentences of several members of the gang after it emerged that the apparently racially aggravated nature of their crimes was not reflected in their punishment. Mike Penning, a former policing minister, said that he had written to Mr Wright questioning whether the incident should be treated as “a race-hate crime”.” – The Times (£)
>Yesterday: Martin Parsons in Comment: It’s a slur to label these grooming gangs “Asian” – they’re Pakistani and Muslim
“A Tory MP has resigned from his role at Bath University over the six-figure salary of its vice-chancellor, who is the highest-paid in the country. Andrew Murrison said Dame Glynis Breakwell’s £451,000 salary was ‘inappropriate’ at a time when student fees are rising and he accused university bosses of forming a ‘self-serving cartel’. Yesterday, the MP for South West Wiltshire announced he will cut his 16-year association with the university over the pay settlement, which is three times that of the Prime Minister.” – Daily Mail
>Today: ToryDiary: Ministers must decide what higher education is for
“RAF planes could be sent on a mission over North Korea to help the US hunt for nuclear weapons sites, it has been claimed. The Americans want Britain to deploy its specialist spy planes to help find Kim Jong-un’s military bases as they prepare for a possible war with the rogue state. The revelation comes after British MPs said the UK could join a war against North Korea if it launches a strike against the US.” – Daily Mail
Editorial:
>Yesterday: Iain Dale’s column: I never thought I’d compare an American President to a North Korean dictator. But here I go.
“Fuel campaigners are planning to take Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to court to block his “immoral” ‘Toxic Tax’ on older motors, the Sun can reveal. Thousands of drivers are backing plans for a legal challenge which could also pave the way for a similar bid to slam the brakes on the Government’s plans to fine diesel drivers in towns across the UK to cut air pollution. The legal action is being drawn up by FairFuel UK – which has already raised tens of thousands of pounds – and plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign next week as well as asking its 1.5 million supporters to make donations.” – The Sun
More Labour:
>Today: JP Floru in Comment: How to inoculate your children against socialism