Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team Jeremy Hunt unveils £20bn no-deal Brexit ‘war chest’… Jeremy Hunt will announce plans for a £20 billion “war chest” for a no deal Brexit which would see dramatic tax cuts designed to turbo-charge the economy. The Foreign Secretary will unveil a detailed 10-point plan for leaving without a deal, with a package of financial support which he likens to that offered in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. He will claim that Boris Johnson effectively wants to leave the EU on a “wing and a prayer” and that Britain deserves a leader “who is prepared to put in the hard yards preparing for no deal”. In a special no deal Budget, Mr Hunt would set aside £6 billion to help farmers and fishermen weather any impact of no deal, and spend £13bn cutting corporation tax from 19 per cent to 12.5 per cent to help business. Further economic stimuli including plans for business rates would add another £1bn, with the cost coming out of the £27bn of fiscal “headroom” set aside by Chancellor Philip Hammond for a no deal Brexit. – Telegraph (£) Jeremy Hunt pledges £6bn for farmers in no-deal Brexit – BBC News …as he says he’d back No Deal ‘with a heavy heart’… Jeremy Hunt has said he would back a no-deal Brexit with a “heavy heart” but would, unlike Tory rival Boris Johnson, not commit to a deadline for leaving. He told the BBC leaving the EU was a “democratic promise” that must be kept, whatever the economic repercussions. But he said the quickest way to leave was via a new deal and guaranteeing a specific exit date was a “fake debate”. The leadership candidates have also defended their plans for more spending on public services and tax cuts. Mr Johnson, who is the frontrunner in the race to be the new Conservative leader, and the UK’s next prime minister, told Sky News he would be prepared to borrow more to spend on vital national infrastructure. He told the Sophy Ridge programme there was up to £25bn “available” in the short term, due to the improved state of the public finances, which “we intend to use” on education, policing and broadband rather than reducing the deficit. – BBC Politics > WATCH: Tory leadership contender Jeremy Hunt discusses his Brexit policy on The Andrew Marr Show …which sparks anger among business groups… Business groups have expressed anger after Jeremy Hunt said he would willingly tell people whose companies went bust after a no-deal Brexit that their sacrifice had been necessary. In a notable escalation of his rhetoric on Brexit, the foreign secretary, who is trailing Boris Johnson in the Conservative leadership election, also said he would actively pursue no deal if a new departure plan looked impossible by the start of October – less than 10 weeks after the new prime minister takes office. Hunt’s shift towards the harder language associated with Johnson, who has promised to deliver Brexit by 31 October “do or die”, has alarmed some fellow Conservatives. A senior party source said it was “shocking to hear an allegedly sensible politician talk so frivolously about the livelihoods of millions of people”. Throughout the leadership campaign Hunt has stressed the potential damage from a no-deal departure, saying he would only pursue it if there was no other way to deliver Brexit. But interviewed on BBC One’s the Andrew Marr Show, Hunt said it could become a policy goal if his plan to renegotiate a departure deal with the EU – dismissed by Brussels as unrealistic – proved impossible. “At the beginning of October, if there is no prospect of a deal that can get through parliament, then I will leave at the end of October because that is our democratic promise to the British people,” Hunt said. – Guardian …but he also refuses to rule out delaying Brexit until 2020 Jeremy Hunt has hinted that Brexit might have to wait until 2020 if he is prime minister as he refused to set a limit on how long he was prepared to delay Britain’s exit from the EU. The Foreign Secretary was challenged to give a guarantee that Britain would leave the EU by the end of this year if he becomes prime minister, but would only say that the current deadline of October 31 was “fake”. He also faced embarrassment when a former Canadian prime minister appeared to distance himself from reports that he was on the verge of joining Mr Hunt’s team. Mr Hunt claimed that “the difference between me and Boris is not as big as people are saying” because both were trying to negotiate a new deal with the EU and both have said no deal must remain an option. He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr: “This is a fake debate. If we got to the end of October and we’ve got a deal and we’re trying to get it through Parliament but we need a few more parliamentary days, I’m not going to rip up that deal, Boris is. “At the beginning of October if there is no prospect of a deal that can get through Parliament then I will leave at the end of October, because that is our democratic promise to the British people.” Asked if he could assure the public that Britain would leave the EU by the end of October, Mr Hunt said: “I believe we’ll leave sooner with me than with Boris or anyone else because I am the person most likely to negotiate a deal, and that is the quickest way to leave. Parliament is trying to stop a no deal Brexit. They succeeded before, they may succeed again. “That is an issue that will face any prime minister whatever they’ve said about October 31.” – Telegraph (£) EU set for showdown as Boris Johnson brings Rees-Mogg in to ‘crack team’ Boris Johnson has drafted in a crack team to draw up a new Withdrawal Agreement, consisting of two senior Brexiteers and vocal Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg. Mr Johnson and Tory leadership rival Jeremy Hunt are both to bring in new negotiating teams to develop a new Brexit blueprint. Cheers erupted at the leadership hustings in Manchester last night after it was revealed that Olly Robbins had left his post as Brexit negotiator. Jeremy Hunt has acquired the talents of senior Canadian politicians, while Boris Johnson enlisted hardline British Brexiteers. Mr Johnson’s three-man team consists of European Research Group chair Jacob Rees-Mogg, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox. They began work on a new deal last week and will create proposals to leave the EU with or without a deal come the October 31 exit date. Taking to Twitter, Jacob Rees-Mogg praised Mr Johnson, claiming: “Boris has the energy, vision and drive to lift the hearts of our nation. – Express Jeremy Corbyn urged to back Remainer plot to block no-deal Brexit ahead of critical Commons vote… Jeremy Corbyn was urged to back a Remainer plot to block a No Deal ahead of a critical Commons vote. Backbenchers lined up to demand the Labour leader order MPs to back an amendment from Margaret Beckett and Tory rebel Dominic Grieve that would cut off the Government’s money supply to stop a cliff edge exit. Tory sources said they feared Labour was preparing to back the move – after it cancelled MPs’ leave for this week. One Tory said: “We’ve been told we have to be around as Labour is on a three-line whip.” Anti-Brexit Labour MP Ben Bradshaw urged his front bench to do “the right thing”. He said: “We must do everything in our power to prevent a Conservative Government crashing us out of the EU without a deal or a mandate.” Ex Tory Cabinet Minister Justine Greening is among those understood to be backing the move – tabled as an amendment to finance regulations. But sources said they believed the size of any Tory rebellion would be limited by the current leadership battle. “No one’s going to rock the boat now, not least as they’ll be jobs on offer from whoever wins the race. – The Sun …while John McDonnell voices Labour Brexit policy frustration… John McDonnell has expressed renewed frustration at the slow pace of change on Labour’s Brexit policy, praising Jeremy Corbyn for seeking a consensus view, but warning: “We need to move now.” In a sign of the continued splits within the party over whether and how to seek a second referendum, and what side to campaign for if one happened, a key Corbyn ally, Unite’s Len McCluskey, said the Labour leader should not be “bullied” into action by his frontbench. A shadow cabinet meeting last week, billed as key in deciding Labour’s position, failed to reach an agreement after Corbyn said he wanted to consult unions and others further before making a decision, going against the view of several shadow ministers. Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said he was among those who wanted a more openly pro-referendum and pro-remain approach. “I’ve said publicly I would vote remain, I’d campaign for remain. Jeremy then said we need to consult our executive committee members,” McDonnell said. – Guardian Labour ‘must move now’ on switching Brexit position, says John McDonnell – Sky News > WATCH: Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell discusses Brexit on Sophy Ridge on Sunday …and Len McCluskey tells Labour: Don’t panic over Brexit Unite leader Len McCluskey has insisted “there is no panic” over Labour’s Brexit policy and the party should trust leader Jeremy Corbyn. He told the BBC it should not rush to back remaining in the EU and should wait for the party’s consultation. But shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Sky he was “a little” frustrated over the delay in deciding whether to oppose Brexit at the next election. Mr McCluskey dismissed reports about Mr Corbyn’s health as “fake news”. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, he said some people were in a “rush” to change Labour’s position of “respecting the 2016 referendum and trying to negotiate a deal which would unite the nation”. He blamed “huge mistakes” by Prime Minister Theresa May, a government “incapable” of delivering Brexit and a “well-funded Remain lobby” for turning the Brexit debate “toxic”. But he denied that it was time for Labour to support remaining in the European Union. “There is no panic, there is no panic to do anything. Let Jeremy Corbyn consult,” he said. “My message to Labour MPs and members is he’s done OK so far, let’s trust him to consult and see what emerges.” – BBC News Labour should not ‘panic’ over switching their Brexit position, union boss Len McCluskey says – ITV News > WATCH: Unite’s Len McCluskey discusses Brexit on The Andrew Marr Show Anti-Brexit anglophile Frans Timmermans tipped for top EU post… A supporter of a second European Union referendum who has criticised Boris Johnson for “borderline racist” comments has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Jean-Claude Juncker but immediately faced opposition from populist central European governments at a tetchy Brussels summit. Frans Timmermans, a self-confessed anglophile who is fluent in seven languages, had appeared to be in pole position to take over from Juncker to head the European commission from 1 November as leaders met on Sunday evening. His candidacy had been given a boost over the weekend by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who said Timmermans, the Socialists’ and Democrats’ nominee for the post, or the German centre-right MEP Manfred Weber would be “part of the solution”. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has opposed Weber’s claim to the role as group leader of the European People’s party (EPP), the largest group in the European parliament. Merkel agreed at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, that despite her support for Weber, he would not get the top job but would be given a senior role elsewhere, potentially as president of the European parliament. – Guardian …but EU leaders are forced to resume talks this morning after disagreement last night over the top jobs EU leaders meeting in Brussels remain divided over who should get the EU’s top jobs, including a successor to Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker. Talks resumed over breakfast on Monday morning, after the member countries failed to reach agreement at the emergency summit convened on Sunday. Summit chair Donald Tusk decided to have a break for bilateral talks. Mr Tusk and some leaders are said to be proposing Dutch centre-left politician Frans Timmermans for the top job. But the appointment faces stiff opposition from eastern European states and centre-right leaders from the EU’s biggest political group. All of the EU’s top jobs are changing hands this year, following European-wide elections in May. – BBC News Theresa May makes veiled attack on Boris Johnson’s Brexit policy Theresa May has made a thinly veiled attack on Boris Johnson’s “do or die” approach to leaving the EU on 31 October, insisting that the right approach for Britain was to leave with a deal. Attending her last EU summit in Brussels as prime minister on Sunday, May took aim at the approach of the Tory leadership frontrunner, who has taken an increasingly hardline approach in recent days. Johnson has said that if the EU declines to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement and remove the contentious Irish backstop, he would take the UK out of the EU without a deal on Halloween. When asked if this was the best approach to Brexit, May suggested the next prime minister should focus on getting a deal through the Commons. The prime minister was thwarted three times by MPs in seeking to get the withdrawal agreement ratified. She said: “I’ve always been very clear that I think the best approach for the UK is to first of all ensure we’re delivering on the vote that took place in 2016, leaving the EU, but that we do that with a good deal so we can do it in an orderly way. I still think we negotiated a good deal. I wasn’t able to get a majority in parliament for that deal. It will be up to my successor to get that majority, deliver on the vote and take us forward.” – Guardian Theresa May reiterates belief getting ‘a good deal’ is the best way forward for Brexit – ITV News Brexit Party vow to shatter Tories and be ‘biggest party in Westminster’… Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage unveiled his first 100 candidates to stand in a general election at a ‘Big Vision rally’ where he warned his movement wants to become the “biggest party in Westminster”. Nigel Farage demanded the Tory party “step aside” to give the Brexit Party an opportunity to take seats from the Labour Party as he hailed his party for “shattering the status quo of politics”. He told a crowd of 5,500 supporters during a rally in Birmingham the Brexit Party was “not just a protest movement”. He said: “There are many seats in the country, especially Labour-held seats, where we are the main challenger. “Now we can only beat the Labour Party. By voting Conservative, they let Labour win. If you vote Tory, you will get Corbyn and you should stand aside for the Brexit Party who can beat them in those constituencies. Brexit Party has shattered status quo of politics.” – Express …but Nigel Farage faces questions after refusing to identify his 100 new prospective Brexit Party MPs Nigel Farage faced questions on Sunday night after he unveiled 100 new prospective MPs for the Brexit Party but refused to name any of the candidates. Just 49 days after forming the party, a selected group of its newest prospective parliamentary candidates attended Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre with the sort of razzmatazz more usually seen at a concert than a political rally. In front of a 5,000-strong crowd, the would-be MPs took to the stage as the booming sounds of High Hopes, by Indy rock band Panic At The Disco, played overhead. But in a bizarre move that will raise questions about the Party’s readiness to fight a general election, Mr Farage and his staff refused point-blank to say who any of them were. – Telegraph (£) Boris Johnson: We will prove Vladimir Putin wrong by leaving the EU by October 31st It is a matter of economic fact that, when Vladimir Putin says that liberalism is obsolete, he is talking the most tremendous tripe. Liberalism is alive. It is well. It is delivering prosperity on a scale unimaginable to previous generations. That is because a society that is free and inclusive and open will – on the whole – be the best place to start a business. It will be the safest place to invest. It will be the best place to start a family. It will be the best place to live. And there could be no better example of the triumph of liberal values, of course, than Britain today. One of the problems with the EU, as it has developed over the past 45 years of our membership, is that it has begun seriously to undermine that fundamental characteristic of a liberal democracy: that the people should have the power, at elections, to remove those who make the laws. The EU system makes this impossible. Over the years, successive treaties have centralised power in Brussels, in a way that is understood by a tiny minority – who can always be sure of knocking on the right door in the Berlaymont, or paying someone to do so on their behalf – but which is wholly opaque to the broad mass of the public. That was one of the reasons people voted to leave, and that is why it is so essential that we get on with it now and carry out that mandate by October 31. If we fail yet again, and kick the can down the road, we will continue to undermine trust in politics. If we say that it is not a “hard” deadline, we will fuel the suspicion that there is a conspiracy by the elite to frustrate the will of the people. And people will reasonably wonder, if October 31 is not the “hard” deadline, then what is? Is it Christmas? The Greek calends? – Boris Johnson MP for the Telegraph (£) The Sun: Britain’s next Prime Minister must deliver Brexit and keep us fighting fit for our future out of the EU The Tory leadership rivals are finally getting serious about preparing for Brexit. Boris Johnson has, outwardly at least, adopted a tough negotiating stance in a sign to Brussels that talks are over if they don’t play ball. And Jeremy Hunt rightly promises extra cash for farmers, fishermen and the small firms which could take a hit if we end up in a No Deal scenario. But his problem is that no one really believes he would deliver No Deal. Mr Hunt won’t even commit to taking us out by the end of the year, let alone honouring the October 31 deadline. And while it’s good to see more No Deal funding on offer, both candidates should be wary of rash spending promises they might not be able to pay for. Until Brexit’s sorted out once and for all, the new PM must keep the safety-first approach which has brought our debt under control in recent years. With Labour gagging to turn on the spending taps, even if it bankrupts Britain, the Tories need to show they’re still the party of financial prudence. That’s the best way to keep the UK fighting fit for our future outside the EU. – The Sun says Brexit in Brief How Boris Johnson’s Brussels years helped pave way to Brexit – Jim Brunsden for the FT(£) The return of no-deal and the Irish border – Tony Connelly for RTE