“David Davis could be expelled from parliament if he fails to hand over sensitive documents about the impact of Brexit on the economy, John Bercow warned yesterday. The Commons Speaker said Mr Davis could face a charge of contempt of parliament if he fails to satisfy MPs demanding details of impact assessments covering 58 sectors of the economy. The Brexit Secretary yesterday handed over an 850-page dossier on the subject to MPs, but only after sensitive information had been removed… Brexit minister Robin Walker said the Government had an ‘overriding duty to the national interest’ not to publish information that could undermine Britain’ s position in the negotiations with Brussels.” – Daily Mail
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“Sources on both sides confirmed that an agreement-in-principle has now been reached over the EU’s demand for a €60bn financial settlement ahead of a crucial lunch meeting next Monday between Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president. Two sources confirmed that the terms were agreed at a meeting in Brussels late last week after intense back-channel discussions led by Oliver Robbins, the UK’s chief Brexit negotiator. The Telegraph understands that the final figure, which is deliberately being left open to interpretation, will be between €45bn and €55bn, depending on how each side calculates the output from an agreed methodology.” – Daily Telegraph
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>Today: Rory Broomfield in Comment: How much extra money should we give the EU? I say: not a penny.
“Sinn Fein today launched a fresh bid to keep Northern Ireland in EU structures after Brexit – as they warned there could be violence and civil disobedience if a hard border Irish returns. The Irish republican party wants Northern Ireland to stay in the customs union and single market – and are trying to convince the Brussels club to back their demand. It sets them on a collision course with Theresa May and the DUP who are propping her up in No10, who have ruled it out as it would move the hard border to the Irish sea. Chris Hazzard, an MP with the party, warned that any return to a hard Irish border could reignite The Troubles and spark widespread civic disobedience. He said Brexit poses a ‘direct threat to the Good Friday Agreement’ and the peace of the past two decades.” – Daily Mail
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>Today: Profiles: Arlene Foster, standing firm for Britain in Belfast
>Yesterday: Henry Newman in Comment: If Ireland overplays its hand, it could collapse the Brexit talks entirely. Which would hit it harder than us.
“Theresa May will not give the nation a Bank Holiday to celebrate Harry and Meghan’s wedding. There was a surge of public expectation after the engagement was finally announced that it would be followed by the announcement of an extra public holiday in 2018 – but Downing Street soon dismissed the idea. No10 aides insisted there was “no precedent” for the national day off despite William and Kate’s celebration in April 2011. The PM’s official spokesman said: “There are no plans for a Bank Holiday. There isn’t a precedent in this area.” But Labour MP John Woodcock yesterday blasted: “There should surely be a bank holiday to celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.”” – The Sun
“Theresa May will today tackle Saudi Arabia about the kingdom’s aggressive foreign policy on her second trip to Riyadh this year. The prime minister will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and raise the Gulf state’s dispute with Qatar and humanitarian concerns about its involvement in the civil war in Yemen. Her plan to address the “big foreign policy issues” is a riposte to critics who have accused her of turning a blind eye to heavy-handed manoeuvres and human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia. The state has led a three-week blockade in Yemen, though reports this week suggested that it had finally begun to allow shipments of food and humanitarian aid.” – The Times
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“Damian Green will deputise for Theresa May at prime minister’s questions today, despite being subject to an investigation into his conduct. The first secretary of state remains the subject of a Cabinet Office inquiry, which began last month in response to allegations of inappropriate advances on an activist and has since widened to examine claims that he viewed pornography on a parliamentary computer. The prime minister is visiting Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Downing Street said that she was not pre-empting the result of the investigation.” – The Times
“The government has triggered a row with NHS staff by unveiling plans to overhaul their pay, including how much they receive for working antisocial shifts. Health unions have warned Jeremy Hunt that he is risking a repeat of the acrimonious junior doctors’ dispute by seeking to reduce the extra amounts staff get for weekend and overnight working. The health secretary has also aroused anger by making it clear that he wants to change increments – extra cash staff receive that helps increase their take-home pay. Unions voiced their opposition after Hunt disclosed his intentions in an interview with the Health Service Journal, saying he wanted to change the way more than 1 million NHS personnel in England are paid by introducing a “more professional pay structure”.” – The Guardian
>Yesterday: Anne-Marie Trevelyan in Comment: We must not neglect the mental health of autistic people
“Railway lines and stations lost during the Beeching cuts could be reopened to drive housebuilding. The Transport Secretary said yesterday that reversing some of the 1960s closures would provide homes, boost the economy and ease overcrowding. Chris Grayling’s ministry will today announce it is to accelerate plans announced in the Budget to reopen a rail link between Oxford and Cambridge. Other lines in Bristol, Devon and the West Midlands could be reinstated, along with the building of four stations in West Yorkshire. Chancellor Philip Hammond hopes new infrastructure will allow him to deliver on his vow in the Budget last week to build 300,000 homes a year.” – Daily Mail
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Editorial:
>Today: Alex Morton’s column: A terrifying possibility for Britain. We are turning Japanese – and entering an era of permanent stagnation.
>Yesterday: James Frayne’s column: The Industrial Strategy. Top marks for spin. Lower ones for content.
“Food made from genetically modified crops will continue to be banned in the UK after Britain leaves the European Union, Michael Gove has suggested. The Environment secretary’s admission could damage Britain’s attempts to negotiate a trade deal outside of the EU because the US is expected to push for more GM-based foods to be sold in the UK. Britain is under intense pressure from the US to drop the EU’s ban on GM foods after Brexit to help speed a trade deal with the US. However the EU has insisted that food standards will not be compromised if the UK and the EU are to agree a trade deal after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019.” – Daily Telegraph
“I’m not saying that Ms Patel is without controversy. Far from it. I am simply pointing out that, if the odds are shortening on some of the cabinet contenders for the top job, she could be in with a shout. In a week in which the royal family has welcomed a mixed-race American actor and activist into the fold, the Conservative party might at least ask the question of whether a daughter of Ugandan refugees could refashion its fortunes. Last night’s intervention was a statement of intent from Ms Patel that we certainly haven’t heard the last from her.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: Peter Franklin in Comment: Introducing GovOpposition. How the Tories can reinvent themselves in office. And who’s doing it best.
“Corbynistas are pushing centrist councillors out of their seats in a battle to take firm grip of the Labour party from the ground up. Councillors across the country are facing a battle to hold on to their seats after pressure from Momentum-backed candidates, a fringe group which grew out of Corbyn’s leadership campaign in 2015. A wave have already been deselected ahead of May’s local elections, with some in London being written off as “zombie Blairites”. Councillors used to face an open contest to run again in their seat now face a vote for their re-selection.” – The Sun
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“Sadiq Khan is banning car parking spaces around new homes and offices in the capital in a bid to cut cut car use. The London mayor said he wants to reduce road congestion and air pollution with his draft Transport Strategy. Under the scheme, parking spaces will not be allowed as part of residential developments which have the best public transport links, while new offices in the centre of the capital will not be able to include commuter or visitor parking. The idea is part of the mayor’s London Plan – which is about to go up for consultation – and would affect central and inner areas of the city from as early as Autumn 2019, if it gets voted through.” – Daily Mail
>Today: Sam Hearn in Local Government: Khan’s threat to Chiswick
“The Scottish economy “simply can’t afford” Nicola Sturgeon’s plans to create a higher income tax regime than England and the move “should be avoided at all costs”, the UK’s most eminent business group has warned. The CBI said that a “chasm” opening up between tax rates north and south of the Border would make investors “think twice” about coming to Scotland and squeeze household incomes “at a critical juncture.” In a submission to Derek Mackay, the SNP Finance Minister, ahead of next month’s Scottish Budget, the business group called for “parity of income tax” with the rest of the UK. Mr Mackay rejected proposals to extend business rates to leisure and cultural venues run by council arm’s-length bodies (ALEOs), which the Tories had called a “swim tax”.” – Daily Telegraph
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