Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson steps up call for the party to pledge a second referendum… Labour’s deputy leader has stepped up calls for his party to promise a referendum on any Brexit deal in its European elections manifesto. Tom Watson urged party members to message Labour’s ruling national executive committee to call for a “confirmatory ballot” pledge. The NEC meets on Tuesday to decide on Labour’s campaign manifesto. But frontbencher Barry Gardiner said a referendum on any Brexit deal would be a change in Labour policy. The shadow international trade secretary told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics that the party’s policy agreed at last year’s conference was to go for a referendum “to stop a no-deal or a bad Tory Brexit.” He added: “If we are being pushed into a no-deal by this government, we will have a second referendum. But we want to try – and that’s why we’re in there with the government now – trying to deliver on what people voted for.” – BBC News Jeremy Corbyn faces open revolt over second referendum as Tom Watson appeals directly to Labour activists – Telegraph (£) …as trade unions urge Jeremy Corbyn to put the pledge in Labour’s Euro- manifesto… Leading unions want Jeremy Corbyn to put a pledge to back another EU referendum in Labour’s forthcoming European election manifesto, PoliticsHome has learned. The general secretaries of Unison, the GMB and Usdaw have thrown their weight behind the move as a crunch meeting of the party’s ruling national executive committee looms. Reports on Sunday suggested that Unison boss Dave Prentis had give the Labour leader assurances that he would support his more equivocal stance that a second referendum should only be held to stop a “Tory Brexit” or the UK leaving without a deal. But PoliticsHome understands that Mr Prentis has joined forces with GMB boss Tim Roache and Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis in backing Mr Watson and Sir Keir. Labour’s NEC will meet on Tuesday to finalise the party’s position in what promises to be a defining moment. At last year’s Labour conference in Liverpool, party members unanimously agreed to oppose Theresa May’s Brexit deal and, if forcing a general election proved impossible, all options including campaigning for another referendum should be on the table. Mr Prentis took to Twitter to insist that the party must stick to that position. – PoliticsHome …while Labour MEP candidates make a personal pledge to back another referendum… Labour MEP candidates have signed a personal pledge to campaign for a second Brexit referendum and back remaining in the EU, amid an internal party row over its position on a public vote. The list of 22 candidates includes Richard Corbett and Seb Dance, the current leader and deputy leader of the party in the European Parliament. Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) will decide on Tuesday whether the party’s manifesto for the European elections in May will commit the party to a referendum. Senior party figures, including Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner and Shadow Business Secretary Rebeca Long-Bailey on Sunday suggested the party would only support a referendum as an alternative to a no-deal or a deal promoted by the Conservative Party. But many Labour MPs and members want any deal, even one favoured by the Labour leadership, to be put back to the public. – Huffington Post …although the Shadow Business Secretary hints at the party backing a Brexit deal without the promise of referendum Labour is prepared to sign up to a Brexit deal with the government without the promise of a referendum attached if cross-party talks make significant progress in the coming days, one of the party’s negotiators has said. With talks set to resume on Monday, Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, made clear that if Labour’s Brexit demands were met, she would not expect the party to insist it be put to a public vote. “Our party policy has always been that firstly we want to get a Brexit deal that puts our economy and living standards first and protects our environmental protections, workplace protections, health and safety standards,” she said. “If we don’t get a deal that satisfies those objectives – if it’s a damaging deal, a damaging Tory Brexit deal, or there’s a risk of us moving towards a no deal – in that circumstance, we’ve said that all options should be on the table, and that includes campaigning for a public vote,” she added. Her intervention came ahead of what is widely expected to be a combative meeting of Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) on Tuesday, to sign off its manifesto for the European parliamentary elections. – Guardian Labour could sign up to Brexit deal without a second referendum, shadow minister says – Independent > WATCH: Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey on Sky’s Ridge on Sunday Labour claims the Government is still refusing to move on its Brexit red lines in the cross-party talks… There appears to be no end to the Brexit deadlock in sight, with Labour again accusing the government of refusing to budge on its red lines in cross-party talks. Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey told Sky News there needed to be “hard and fast” progress in the discussions, which will continue this week. She also denied suggestions from the Conservatives that her party was stalling, saying “we’re certainly not dragging our heels”. Ms Long-Bailey told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “Honestly I think the discussions so far have been productive, they’ve gone into a lot of detail, there seems to be a willingness on both sides to move towards some form of consensus. “But as yet we haven’t seen the government move on any of their red lines, we’re having further discussions this week and hopefully we’ll see some movement.” She added: “At the moment we are focusing on the detail, where we stand in relation to our relevant positions, and where potentially we could move to. – Sky News …as Michel Barnier says this week will be important for the Brexit negotiations The outcome of talks between British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government and the opposition Labour Party to break the deadlock over Britain’s exit from the European Union could be known in the coming week, European Union’s chief negotiator said on Sunday. “This week will be very important. We will have the results of negotiations between the Labour Party and the Theresa May’s government. Are these talks going to yield something?,” Michel Barnier said on LCI television. A business spokeswoman for the Labour party said earlier on Sunday that the talks have been productive but the government needed to move on its red lines. Barnier said the talks between the Labour Party and the British government do not call into question the 600-page withdrawal deal that was negotiated between the bloc and the British government. “The two parties agree that the deal we have is the only one possible… the deal we have reached is non-negotiable.” “Mrs. May agrees, so too (Labour Party leader) Jeremy Corbyn. What we could negotiate and improve, is the political declaration that defines our future relationship with Britain,” Barnier said. – Reuters Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis still insists his priority is to not to have to fight the European elections… Brandon Lewis has refused to say when the Tories’ European election campaign will launch, saying his priority is not to have to fight them at all. The UK is due to elect new MEPs on 23 May, after Brexit was delayed amid continuing parliamentary deadlock. Several parties have launched their campaigns already but Conservative chair Mr Lewis told the BBC his focus was on next week’s local elections. The UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October, or sooner if a deal is agreed. This means the UK must now hold European Parliament elections on 23 May if it wants to avoid leaving the EU without a deal. – BBC News > WATCH: Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis on BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show …as Theresa May seeks to delay the Queen’s Speech by clogging up the Commons with benign legislation Theresa May is scrambling to find legislation to keep MPs busy over the summer so that she can delay a potentially fatal Queen’s Speech until the autumn. The parliamentary session is already on course to be the longest in postwar history but the prime minister lacks the authority to start a new term. Passing a Queen’s Speech is a minimum constitutional requirement of a viable government. Cabinet sources admit that the bill that implements Brexit is the last significant piece of legislation in the locker. Mrs May dare not introduce it, however, as she fears that it will be rejected by MPs, forcing her to end the session. Instead, Downing Street has drawn up a list of relatively benign legislation to justify extending the session beyond the original two-year deadline due in June. It includes bills to change the tax treatment of sporting testimonials and increase the maximum sentences for cases of animal cruelty. Others under consideration in No 10 include measures to address domestic abuse and increase tenants’ rights. The bill setting up the body to restore the Houses of Parliament is also being dusted down to fill the weeks and months ahead. – The Times (£) Theresa May is ‘set to delay the Queen’s Speech until autumn’ amid fears that her Government would lose the crucial vote – Daily Mail Tories braced for local election wipeout as deputy chairman warns of mounting Brexit anger on the doorstep… The Tories are braced to lose more than 1,000 seats in the local elections this week, as the party’s deputy chairman admits that polling day is “going to be a difficult night for us”. Voters are expected to abandon the Conservatives on Thursday amid mounting anger over Brexit, with new polling indicating the party will suffer huge losses across the country. Senior party officials are now preparing for an electoral wipeout, with two separate analyses by Sky News projecting that the Tories could lose between 400 and 1,100 council seats. Asked about the gloomy forecasts on Sunday, Helen Whately, deputy chair of the Conservatives, admitted “there is no doubt…the local elections are going to be difficult”. Speaking to Sky News’s Sophy Ridge, she added that there was a strong chance many voters would vote to “kick the Government” over the delay to Brexit. – Telegraph (£) Theresa May set to lose 800 councillors in local election meltdown as furious voters desert Tories over Brexit – The Sun Tories should expect to lose 800 seats in local elections, says analyst – Guardian …while Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party soars in the polls as he vows to bring down Labour flip-floppers Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party is soaring in the polls as he vows to kick out Labour’s flip-flopping MPs. One in six Brits would vote for the Eurosceptic party in a General Election, according to a new survey. The result would make the Brexit Party Britain’s third largest, behind only the Tories and Labour. Mr Farage is adamant his party will come top in the European Parliament elections scheduled to take place next month. In a new interview he hit out at Labour figures such as Yvette Cooper who have U-turned on their past promise to back Brexit. He told the Mail on Sunday: “She told people in Pontefract that she would honour the result of the referendum, yet she has now spent the last two years doing everything she can to undermine that result and reverse that result. “This is literally a kick in the teeth for Labour voters. “The truth is Labour are now a nailed-on Remainer party.” So far the Brexit Party has drained more support from the Tories than Labour but Mr Farage has vowed to go after Jeremy Corbyn’s party too. A new poll released by Opinium today shows Labour and the Brexit Party tied on 28 per cent for the Euro elections, with the Conservatives trailing far behind. And in a General Election, Mr Farage’s outfit would win 17 per cent with Labour on 33 per cent and the Tories on 26 per cent. The party boss told The Sun this week that his new party would take part in the next General Election regardless of the outcome of Brexit. – The Sun Tory MPs ‘could quit party’ if Boris Johnson becomes PM – as Theresa May enters Brexit ‘death zone’ Tory MPs could quit the party if Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister, the Brexiteer was warned today. Theresa May fears she is entering “the death zone” where leadership rivals will ramp up their campaign to kick her out of office. Boris is the favourite to replace her – but some MPs are threatening to storm out of the party if he does become the next PM. Leading moderate Rory Stewart, the Prisons Minister, today suggested he would quit if Mr Johnson adopted a hard Brexit strategy. Asked if he could stay in the party under Boris, Mr Stewart told the BBC: “I would find that difficult if he were campaigning for a No Deal Brexit. “Becoming a hard Brexit party isn’t just about Brexit, it carries with it a whole series of statements about polarising extreme right-wing politics. “I’d find it very difficult to stay, I’d have to look at what he was doing. “The important thing is to have moral principles and for me the red line is campaigning for a No Deal Brexit.” Previously Europhile MPs such as Dominic Grieve have said they’d resign if Boris became leader. Mrs May is braced for a challenge after Thursday’s local elections, which are likely to see the Tories suffer heavy losses. No10 insiders have dubbed the three-week period between local polls and the European Parliament elections “the death zone”, according to the Mail on Sunday. – The Sun Theresa May to face backlash on plans to charge EU students more Theresa May is facing a cabinet row over plans to charge EU nationals the same rates as other international students to study at English universities, in a move that critics claim undermines Britain’s competitiveness. The proposal would see tens of thousands of EU students, who are currently charged the same tuition fees as home students, facing a big increase in fees from 2021 after Brexit. The Treasury has indicated its concerns about the proposal because it would reduce the flow of talent arriving in Britain. Internal government estimates suggest the move could reduce by two-thirds the number of students from the bloc studying in England. “There is a good amount of talent here and we want to maintain that,” said one person briefed on Treasury thinking. “The discussions are just beginning, but the Treasury is in favour of the status quo.” Sam Gyimah, who quit as universities minister at the end of last year in protest at Mrs May’s Brexit policy, said: “It’s short sighted. There is no sense of what is strategic, what is in our interests, including in terms of promoting the English language.” The row threatens to reopen divisions between Mrs May, who wants to bear down on immigration, and liberals in the cabinet who want to limit the impact of Brexit on the economy. – FT(£) Jeremy Hunt unveils £750million trade and investment bundle to strengthen global ties post-Brexit Jeremy Hunt flew to Senegal last night to begin a high-profile tour of Africa designed to signal Britain’s determination to break into new overseas markets after Brexit. The Foreign Secretary announced a £750million package to support UK trade and investment in the former French colony where British firms are increasingly involved in the oil and gas, renewable energy, mining and agricultural sectors. And he signalled Government’s commitment to increasing British influence in French and Portuguese-speaking developing countries by also unveiling £3.9million for English language across sub-Saharan Africa. Diplomatic source yesterday described the move as a deliberate “poke in the eye” for French President Emmanuel Macron in the race for new overseas investment in Africa. – Express Jeremy Hunt launches new Brexit charm offensive in Africa in direct challenge to French President Emmanuel Macron” – The Sun Ex-Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale set to leave politics over party’s Brexit stance Kezia Dugdale, the former Scottish Labour leader, is expected to quit frontline politics after becoming increasingly disillusioned with the party’s stance on Brexit. It is understood that Dugdale, who headed the Scottish party for two years until suddenly resigning in 2017 after months of tension with UK leader Jeremy Corbyn, has found another job outside politics. She is expected to confirm her decision within the coming days, the Sunday Times reported, and to formally quit as an MSP at the end of the current Scottish parliament session in June. Dugdale, a member of Labour’s centrist wing, has made little secret of her unhappiness with Labour’s stance on EU membership and has demanded Corbyn campaigns for a second vote on any Brexit deal. Dugdale would not comment and her allies refused to be drawn on her resignation. – Guardian Lib Dem Deputy Leader Jo Swinson says it’s a ‘shame’ pro-EU parties could not agree on joint Euro election ticket It is a “shame” that pro-EU parties have not been able to agree on a joint platform for the European elections, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson said. The May 23 contest will feature Lib Dem candidates battling against would-be MEPs from Change UK and the Greens who are all explicitly calling for a second referendum. Outgoing Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said the “fragmented” approach would result in fewer seats for the parties. Ms Swinson said: “I think it is a shame that those Remain-supporting parties aren’t able, weren’t able, to come to an agreement to be fighting that together. “But the wider aim of the securing of a people’s vote to stop Brexit is one where we are very much still working together in Parliament and outside of Parliament.” – Shropshire Star > WATCH: Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Jo Swindon on BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show Nicola Sturgeon vows to force Scottish independence vote as she declares her policy as ‘no Brexit’ Scotland’s First Minister said her party’s policy was “no Brexit” as she addressed the SNP conference in Edinburgh. Ms Sturgeon slammed Theresa May’s divorce deal and the Prime Minister’s bid to thrash out a compromise with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The SNP leader said: “Brexit is an unforgivable act of Tory sabotage on our country. “Having failed to force her disastrous plan through Parliament, the Prime Minister is now looking for help from Labour. “Let me be blunt. I don’t trust Theresa May. But, on Brexit, I don’t trust Jeremy Corbyn either. “So today, I make this clear. The SNP will not vote for a Tory Brexit and we will not vote for a Labour Brexit. “Our policy is no Brexit. That is what the people of Scotland voted for, and that is what should happen.” Having set out plans in Scottish Parliament earlier this week to force a second independence referendum, Ms Sturgeon added: “It is time for Scotland to become independent. “The last three years have shown, beyond any doubt, that for Scotland the Westminster system is broken.” “If the UK can’t be persuaded to change course, Scotland must. “We must have the choice of a better future. – Express John Redwood: Major parties across Europe are dying. Unless we deliver Brexit, Tories and Labour could be next The UK parties need to take heed of what has happened on the Continent. Most Christian-democrat and social-democrat movements from Italy to Germany, from Spain to Greece, have been wedded to the EU project. This has done them grave damage. The failure to tackle high unemployment, and the unhappiness even of German voters about the sharing of risks and disciplines, has led people to turn to Syriza on the Left in Greece, to National Rally on the Right in France, and to AFD or the Greens in Germany. Brexit was supposed to be the difference between these countries and the UK. Yet too many MPs have wished to block that strong democratic impulse. Electors have seen through the so-called Withdrawal Agreement and understand it delays our exit and undermines our bargaining position. The Continent shows that new movements can emerge very quickly and take over without difficulty. If the Government does not just take us out soon, there could be a whirlwind of political change here, too. John Redwood MP for the Telegraph (£) > Joshua Mackenzie-Lawrie on BrexitCentral today: Both the Tories and Labour face an electoral backlash over their handling of Brexit Robert Peston: Labour set to retain ‘equivocal’ referendum position A concerted attempt by Labour MPs and MEPs to engineer that their party would campaign unambiguously for a “confirmatory” Brexit referendum in the EU elections looks set to flop. Instead Jeremy Corbyn’s preferred position of characterising a new public vote only as an option is likely to prevail, because he seems to have retained the backing of most of the leaders of the big trade unions. The decision on how strongly to push for a referendum, and how Labour’s position on it should be worded in its manifesto, will be taken at a crunch emergency meeting of the party’s ruling NEC on Tuesday. I am told by senior party sources that in talks last Tuesday with the leaders of the so-called five big trade unions – Unison, Unite, the GMB, Usdaw and the CWU – only the GMB signalled a strong preference for a confirmatory referendum to be upgraded from an option to a clear policy preference. Unison and Usdaw are in theory aligned with the GMB on this, but sources close to Corbyn do not believe they will vote against the Labour leader’s preferred and more ambiguous referendum formulation in a couple of days. As evidence, one source told me that Dave Prentis, General Secretary of the largest union, Unison, told Labour’s leader: “Jeremy, if you can get a deal with the Government then take it.” – Robert Peston for ITV News Brian Monteith: Why I’m standing in an EU election I don’t want Writing a weekly political column in The Scotsman for the last ten years has been a privilege, a challenge and, with three general elections and two referenda, a rollercoaster of a journey. Now, however it is time to bid readers of these pages adieu, or more appropriately, au revoir. I need to take my leave for the foreseeable future as I have decided to contest the European elections I would rather were not being held in the UK at all. So that columnists do not gain an advantage for themselves or a party it is a Scotsman convention that if they take part in elections they step back from their regular slot. Sometimes they return, possibly chastened, maybe emboldened – sometimes they don’t. Over the years I have had my detractors. As a Scottish unionist libertarian I inhabit a subset of a subset that makes my writing usually contrary to the prevailing view. I can live with that, but I cannot accept a vote of the people being ignored. Thus I am, paradoxically, about to stand as a Brexit Party candidate for the European Parliament I have argued our country should no longer be part of. I believe strongly this puts the people’s trust in democracy at great risk. To maintain our belief in the value of voting, especially in referenda where everyone’s vote counts, it is necessary to give a voice to the anger, the disgust and the disappointment that many now hold for the politicians who have lied persistently and without shame about honouring the result of the 2016 vote to leave the EU. – Brian Monteith for The Scotsman Express: Councillors are not to blame for EU betrayal The failure to deliver on its promises over Brexit and to leave the EU – despite Theresa May promising more than 100 times that we would be out on March 29 – has rightly been seen as one of the great betrayals of British democracy. Voters are right to feel utterly disgusted and it is of little surprise that major donors are abandoning the Tory party. However, we need to remember that the elections on Thursday are not about Brexit but how much council tax you pay and the quality of services you get. It is not right to punish hard-working councillors for the failures of MPs. The statistics are also clear. Conservative-run councils in 2019/20 in England charge on average £93 a year less than Labour controlled councils on a Band D home, and £137 a year less than Lib-Dem-controlled councils. The things which affect your day to day life are much more wide ranging than Brexit and if your local authority falls into the wrong hands then you will have to live with the consequences for years. There will almost certainly be a chance for people to register their fury about Brexit soon, by voting in the European Parliament elections for Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party. – Express editorial Brexit in Brief Don’t take out your Brexit frustrations on our hard-working Tory councillors – Boris Johnson MP for the Telegraph (£) To smash the two-party system, the Brexit Party will have to learn from Ukip’s mistakes – Douglas Carswell for the Telegraph (£) Spanish Socialists win general election amid far-right breakthrough – BBC News