‘Ding ding! Seconds out! And we begin the final round of that international slug fest, the Brexit negotiations. Out of their corners come Dominic Raab and Michel Barnier, shrugging their shoulders and beating their chests – and I just hope you aren’t one of those trusting souls who still thinks it could really go either way. The fix is in. The whole thing is about as pre-ordained as a bout between Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy; and in this case, I am afraid, the inevitable outcome is a victory for the EU, with the UK lying flat on the canvas with 12 stars circling symbolically over our semi-conscious head…They have been rumbled. People can see Chequers means disaster.’ – Boris Johnson, Daily Telegraph
>Today: ToryDiary: Opposing Chequers is not enough
‘Cabinet ministers have been quietly reassuring Conservative MPs that Theresa May’s Chequers proposals could evolve to keep Remainers on board. While most of the attention over the summer has focused on growing anger from Brexiteers, Downing Street and Tory whips have been hinting to Remain supporters of Mrs May that she could make further concessions. Many Tory Remainers are keen to secure a Brexit deal that is as business friendly as possible and which minimises disruption to the economy. Ministers will be urged to allow generous visa-free access to EU workers or sign up more closely to EU rules but both moves would be resisted by Brexiteers. Downing Street is desperate to avoid a cascade of Tory MPs copying Justine Greening, who called the Chequers deal “disastrous” a week after it was agreed and demanded a second referendum, or Nick Boles, who called Mrs May’s plan a “humiliation” yesterday.’ – The Times
>Yesterday:
‘I am making it my mission to crack down on and raise awareness around the shocking sexual abuse and exploitation of children. And today I will be giving a speech setting out the way we intend to do it. This Government has done more to tackle child sexual exploitation than any other. But I want to go much, much, further, ensuring no stone is left unturned and give law enforcement the tools they need to tackle these sick offenders. I am also clear that all parts of society must play their part in this battle. This is a complex issue and perpetrators are continually evolving to satisfy their depraved activities. But we owe it to children to do more.’ – Sajid Javid, The Sun
‘Government sources have disclosed that the Help to Buy equity initiative will finish in 2023, rather than the original closing date of 2021, the second time it has been extended. The programme was introduced in 2013 to help to get more people owning property and to ramp up housebuilding. It has since proved so successful for Britain’s biggest housebuilders that it supports between 40 to 50 per cent of their sales each year. However, the scheme has come under criticism for being increasingly dominated by better-off households who use the programme simply to buy more expensive properties. Government data have shown that 6,717 households with a six-figure income have used Help to Buy since its introduction.’ – The Times
‘It emerged last night that MPs lose tens of thousands of pounds of their own money when they stand for Parliament. Conservative candidates who won in marginal seats lost the most – an average of £121,467 each – when they were forced to cut back work in their previous jobs, on top of unreimbursed travel expenses. Labour candidates in marginal seats spent £19,022 of their own money. The findings come in a book, Why We Get The Wrong Politicians, by journalist Isabel Hardman.’ – The Sun
>Today: George Freeman on Comment: Come to our Big Tent Ideas Festival next weekend. And help build conservatism and capitalism for a new generation.
>Yesterday: Line Kristensen on Comment: To win next time, the Conservative Party must make recruiting and training activists its priority
‘The Times has learnt that the legislation needed to pave the way for the second section of HS2 to serve northern England has been put on hold for a year. The bill enabling the line to be built to Manchester and Leeds will now be tabled in 2020. The government insisted that the delay was needed to ensure that HS2 was linked into a proposed upgrade of the main east-west railway line across the Pennines, which is still on the drawing board. It was claimed that the change would not affect the ultimate timetable for the high-speed line, which is supposed to be opened in 2033. However, the claims were met with scepticism by political leaders in the north, with fears that any delay to the parliamentary process would have an inevitable knock-on effect on the project’s completion. It will also cast further doubt over the project after it was reported last week that some senior cabinet ministers were calling for the line to be scrapped to save money.’ – The Times
‘Islamic State in Afghanistan has established “direct links” with British terrorist groups, provoking fears about new “Manchester-style attacks”, the defence secretary has warned. Gavin Williamson said that 440 British troops were sent to the country last month to combat the growing terrorist threat posed to Britain as well as to Afghan civilians. Islamist militants pushed out of Iraq and Syria were regrouping in Afghanistan, he said. Intelligence reports showing a real threat to Britain from Afghan-based militants were consistently being generated, Mr Williamson said. In recent months there have been “countless times when there have been links back to the UK from terrorists in Afghanistan”.’ – The Times
‘Ruth Davidson has described independence as the SNP’s “only real plan” as she launched a scathing attack on Nicola Sturgeon’s record in government. The Sottish Conservative leader accused the First Minister of failing to fight for the future of Scottish children and claimed her government had presided over a “steady decline” in the country’s education system. She issued the critique ahead of Ms Sturgeon unveiling her new “programme for government” when Holyrood returns on Tuesday. Ms Davidson said she should use the occasion to rule out indyref2, and announce that she would concentrate on the economy and education instead.’ – Daily Telegraph
‘Jonathan Sacks said he knows Jewish families who are making plans to quit Britain because they fear the Labour leader could unleash a new wave of anti-Semitism. And he said Mr Corbyn’s past ties to terror groups abroad mean he risks sparking “flames of hatred”. Lord Sacks this week compared the Labour boss to the racist rhetoric of far-right politician Enoch Powell because of his failure to tackle anti-Jewish hatred within his party. Asked if he regretted his attack, the ex-chief rabbi told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “You can judge him by his impact. Jews have been in Britain since 1656 – I know of no other occasion in these 362 years when Jews, the majority of our community, are worrying, ‘Is this country safe to bring up our children?’’ – The Sun
Opinion
>Yesterday:
‘US President Donald Trump has branded Angela Merkel “ridiculous” in his latest attack on European leaders. During an explosive interview with Bloomberg, the US leader also rejected the EU’s proposal to scrap auto tariffs as “simply not good enough”. President Trump intensified his rhetoric against Brussels, claiming that the EU’s trade policies were “as bad as China”. He agreed in July to hold back on his proposed 25 percent tariffs on cars to allow the EU to develop ways to cut down trade barriers.’ – Daily Express
>Today: Chloe Westley’s column: Identitarianism – an ugly word for an ugly belief