‘Across the country I find people who – whatever they voted two years ago – just want us to get on and do it. They don’t want a half-hearted Brexit. They don’t want some sort of hopeless compromise, some perpetual pushme-pullyou arrangement in which we stay half in and half out in a political no mans land – with no more ministers round the table in Brussels and yet forced to obey EU laws. They don’t want some bog roll Brexit – soft, yielding and seemingly infinitely long. They want this government to fulfil the mandate of the people – and deliver a full British Brexit.’ – Boris Johnson, The Sun
Editorials
>Today: ToryDiary: Three laws for Leavers: Be thankful, be watchful, and above all be happy
‘Speaking on the second anniversary of the EU referendum, the international trade secretary remained confident of getting a good trade deal with Brussels. But he warned Brussels not to underestimate Britain’s resolve to walk away if it continues to stall on trade. Dr Fox told the BBC it was ‘essential as we enter the next phase of the negotiations that the European Union understands that and believes it’. Dr Fox said: ‘I think our negotiating partners would not be wise if they believed that the Prime Minister was bluffing.’ And he said the threat had ‘added credibility’ because of the damage European economies would suffer if trade links with the UK were disrupted.’ – Daily Mail
‘We’ve achieved a tremendous amount in a short space of time. Of course, there’s still more to do. So the hard work won’t stop. Talks about the future trading relationship we want with the EU are well under way, including discussions to address the Northern Ireland-Ireland border. My department is finalising our White Paper, which will build on the plans we have already spelt out and give critical detail to the form we want our new economic and security partnerships with the EU to take. It will tackle the misconception that the United Kingdom doesn’t know what it wants out of these negotiations. Two years on from the referendum, rather than looking back, we need to focus on where we want to be two, 10, 20 years into the future. With Britain taking advantage of its destiny as the world’s great free-trading nation.’ – David Davis, Daily Telegraph
‘Heathrow will be banned from building a fourth runway under plans designed to soften opposition to expansion of Britain’s biggest airport. Legislation to be put to the Commons says any attempt to expand Heathrow beyond three runways should be ruled out for ever, on the grounds that a fourth runway would be “costly and extremely difficult to deliver” as well as having a serious impact on the airspace around other London airports. The move follows claims from critics of the airport such as Boris Johnson, Zac Goldsmith and Justine Greening that Heathrow will not stop at a third runway. Ms Greening, the Putney MP and former transport secretary, said that “no one trusts Heathrow” and insisted that the airport would push for a fourth runway regardless of legislation. On Monday, MPs will vote on the government’s airports national policy statement (NPS) which will effectively give Heathrow outline planning consent to proceed with a third runway.’ – The Times
‘Victoria Atkins, a minister in the Home Office, says hardened criminals who are blighting communities should lose their homes so that they “understand the consequences” of their actions. In an interview with the Telegraph, Ms Atkins becomes the first minister to publicly endorse the plan, which is currently being tested in north London. Asked whether she supported the scheme, Ms Atkins said the Government had “changed the law to enable it to happen”. She added: “In the most serious cases with these people who are exploiting young people, making the lives of local residents a misery, putting fear into people’s hearts when they’re picking children up from the school gates, I think absolutely they should understand the consequences of their criminal behaviour.”‘ – Daily Telegraph
‘Sir John Major suggested last night that Margaret Thatcher’s criticism of him when she left office was due to her dementia. The former prime minister received a hostile reception from his predecessor after she was forced out of No 10. He implied this was due to dementia. At a Political Festival event in London yesterday, he said: ‘Margaret was ill… I don’t think anyone quite knew when her illness started. But the comments that came out from Margaret after she left office didn’t sound to me like the Margaret I had come to know…When asked if he thought her illness affected her outlook, he said: ‘Well, I do actually.” – Daily Mail
‘Jon Lansman, founder of the pro-Corbyn Momentum group, said Labour’s policies were so radical there was a real risk that international investors would take fright. ‘We want to make a significant transformation,’ said Mr Lansman, who sits on Labour’s ruling National Executive committee. ‘We want decisions which affect jobs and livelihoods democratised. The global corporations will resist. Other governments have faced challenges like runs on the pound. And we may face similar things. I hope we don’t. The people who are opposed to what we want to do have one thing in their favour – money. We have people. We need the power of people to overcome the power of money.’’ – Daily Mail
>Yesterday: LeftWatch: Labour’s red-on-red infighting over Brexit is intensifying
‘President Trump will press Theresa May to increase defence spending, America’s ambassador to Britain has indicated. The president has made clear on social media this month his frustration at the amount the US contributes to Nato compared with other countries. In an interview with The Times, Robert “Woody” Johnson said that after Brexit Britain would “have to re-evaluate how important security is to you”. The ambassador was speaking before Mr Trump’s trip to Europe next month for a meeting of the western defence allies and a visit to the UK. “Without security there is no prosperity,” he said. “You are going to have to decide what capabilities you require and what the cost is. There is always going to be a trade-off with something else so how do you rationalise that and come up with the answer?”’ – The Times
>Yesterday: WATCH: May defends Britain’s position as a ‘tier one’ military power
‘Patients could have to pay £25 to see their GP under controversial plans unveiled yesterday. Britain’s biggest doctors’ union says billing for some NHS services is the only way to beat a lack of cash. They argue it could help to ease demand in the same way a 5p charge on plastic carrier bags has vastly reduced use. But patients groups warn proposals will lead to sick folk dying because they can’t afford to be seen. The British Medical Association will debate the motion at their annual meeting in Brighton from Sunday. If passed, the union will lobby ministers.’ – The Sun
‘Senior police officers allowed a 13-year-old boy to spend nearly two hours in the home of a known paedophile and gangster to protect a covert operation, The Times can reveal. Police who were carrying out surveillance of Dominic Noonan contacted their superiors when they saw the boy enter his home, shortly before the curtains and windows were closed. However, they were told not to act by senior staff at the Greater Manchester force. One officer has since described being “haunted” by the failure to intervene. Some of those involved in the operation believed that the force had failed in its safeguarding duties. Dominic Scally, the officer in overall charge, has since been promoted to head of counterterrorism policing for the northwest.’ – The Times