Liam Fox to put equal focus on outward investment as foreign investment in the UK “Up until the change of government, the policy was to get as much foreign direct investment into the United Kingdom as possible, but to largely ignore overseas direct investment elsewhere. And that’s a problem because it’s great the year we get the foreign investment and we get jobs created, but every year after that all their income flows that go to their parent companies or their parent countries are outward flows in our current account. Unless we have counterbalancing overseas development, overseas investment, we are unable to get those income flows to counterbalance that. That is why… we’re giving instructions tomorrow to our posts around the world to give equal weight to outward investment.” – International Trade Secretary Liam Fox quoted in The Times (£) Also on The Times’ report of Liam Fox’s leaked remarks on Thursday night: Britain’s businesses have become “too lazy and too fat” says Fox – BBC Fox attacks FCO’s “cartographer’s view of the world” – The Times (£) Full transcript of Fox remarks to Conservative Way Forward – The Times (£) Britain will beg for a deal, Brussels believes Britain has become “completely lost” post Brexit and can eventually be expected to “plead” for a deal when it realises the weakness of its position at the negotiating table, senior European Commission officials now believe. While officially pressing for Britain to invoke Article 50 and begin divorce talks, officials in Brussels are taking growing satisfaction in what they believe is paralysis and disarray in Theresa May’s new government, according to internal discussions seen by The Telegraph. – Daily Telegraph Leave campaigners to launch new Brexit pressure group A new U.K. pressure group backed by a number of high profile Euroskeptic politicians will be launched this weekend to ensure the government does not abandon the central pledges of the Brexit campaign… The group, called “Change Britain,” will be chaired by the German-born Labour MP Gisela Stuart, a prominent figure in the campaign for British withdrawal from the European Union, sources in Westminster and the City of London confirmed. – Politico.eu Guardian splashes on story that Britons “may” have to get a visa to visit the EU post-Brexit British citizens may have to apply online and pay to travel to Europe after the UK leaves the EU, under plans being drawn up by the bloc for a visa waiver programme similar to the US system… Currently, as citizens of the EU but not part of Schengen, UK nationals must show a valid passport to enter the zone but can then travel freely within it. But after Brexit, British citizens could have to apply through the Etias scheme and pay to visit, legal experts said. – The Guardian May and Hammond reportedly at odds over Brexit strategy A row is brewing between Phillip Hammond and Theresa May’s Brexit team as critics cast doubt over the Chancellor’s strength to pull us out of the failing European Union… Reports suggest the Chancellor is slamming the brakes on Mrs May’s exit strategy in the hopes he can seal a deal for access to the single market. – Daily Express New figures show post-referendum export boost Brexit has shrunk Britain’s massive trade gap due to a post-referendum exports boost, new stats revealed today. More than a billion has been wiped off the UK’s vast deficit on trade in goods and services since June. The Office for National Statistics said the gap last month was £4.5billion, shrinking from £5.6billion before the referendum. – The Sun Why builders will be a good bet after Brexit – Daily Mail Australian foreign minister in push for more UK visas Australia will push for more business, student and work visas for its citizens in the UK, as part of a new trade deal after Brexit. On Friday, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said this was “obviously” something that could be part of the free trade agreement that the countries have agreed to negotiate after the UK leaves the European Union. – Sydney Morning Herald Boris Johnson publicly accepts May’s rejection of points based immigration system – The Independent Irish premier: United Ireland remains an option post-Brexit The prospect of a united Ireland must remain an option in the wake of Brexit, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said… “The possibility of unity by consent must be maintained as a valid democratic option into the future,” Mr Kenny said. “That means that, if there were democratic consent to Irish unity at some time in the future, there must be a mechanism to ensure that a democratic decision can be implemented within the European Union, as was the case in Germany.” – Irish Independent Brexit has not boosted support for a united Ireland, polling shows – Left Foot Forward French Presidential hopeful: Block UK financial firms from selling to eurozone after Brexit ritish-based financial institutions must be prevented post-Brexit from selling their services in the eurozone, Emmanuel Macron, the likely progressive left candidate for the French presidency has told the Guardian. He said a ban on so-called financial passporting rights, seen as potentially highly damaging to the City of London and one of the most fraught issues in Brexit talks, “should not be seen as a technical issue but a matter of sovereignty”. – The Guardian Swedish minister blasts UK for dominating EU talks – Daily Express UK Brexit goals ‘completely unrealistic,’ says top Czech negotiator – The Independent Katie Forster: Switzerland offers UK Brexit solution to prevent EU ‘explosion’ over free movement Britain could already be taking tips from Switzerland about the best way to navigate life outside the European Union after Brexit. Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but is the bloc’s third largest trading partner after the USA and China and currently has a free movement agreement that means EU citizens can work and live there. – The Independent Daniel Mahoney: Why the City of London will continue to be top dog after Brexit Brexit offers UK financial service firms many great opportunities. Bilateral trade agreements can be concluded with other powerhouses such as Hong Kong and Singapore. And London’s status means the UK is in a great place to reach an agreement with the EU – as EU businesses will want to retain access to the UK’s stellar financial services. So ignore the doom-mongers: the prospects for the City remain very bright. – Daily Telegraph Jago Pearson: If Brexit delivers for those previously ignored, the Tories can govern uninterrupted for a generation – Daily Telegraph Michael Deacon: Imagine Leave had lost the EU referendum. Would you have been a cry-baby? – Daily Telegraph Tom Goodenough: Wetherspoon’s boss is right to mock doomster economists over Brexit – The Spectator Britain’s Poles deserve better – Politico.eu Neil James: Brexit is the left’s great chance to rid Britain of its bankers – New Statesman So what will Brexit really mean? – The Economist Brexit news in brief May’s grammar schools announcement is an appeal to ignored Brexit voters – Reuters Civil servants’ shop steward demands more money be spent on delivering Brexit – BBC Labour forget to include Brexit on party conference agenda – The Sun Welsh First minister demands seat at Brexit negotiating table – Daily Express British expats challenge EU head over ban on negotiations with UK over Brexit – The Guardian UK film experts upbeat over Brexit – BBC