Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team Jeremy Corbyn ‘set to back second referendum in major Brexit policy shift for Labour’ Jeremy Corbyn is poised to back a major policy shift on Brexit that would see Labour support a second referendum in all circumstances, it has been reported. The Labour leader is understood to be ready to move the party towards a decisive pro-Remain stance following intensifying pressure from his own MPs, including his deputy Tom Watson. It comes as the shadow cabinet are due to meet on Wednesday to thrash out its position on Brexit. A paper has reportedly been drawn up by Andrew Fisher, Mr Corbyn’s head of policy, which recommends the party support a second referendum on any deal struck with Brussels. Mr Corbyn has previously indicated a second referendum has merely been an “option”. Labour’s present policy is to demand changes to Theresa May’s current Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which includes a customs union. A Labour source told The Times: “It is a moment,” as they confirmed Mr Corbyn was endorsing a policy shift. – Telegraph (£) Jeremy Corbyn to back second Brexit referendum – The Times (£) Boris Johnson secures another comfortable victory in second ballot of Tory leadership election… Boris Johnson has again secured a comprehensive victory in the latest ballot of Conservative MPs to choose their new party leader and the UK’s next prime minister. The former foreign secretary attracted the support of 126 MPs, while Dominic Raab dropped out of the contest after failing to reach the threshold of 33 votes needed to progress to the next round. The ex-Brexit secretary secured the backing of just 30 Tory MPs and is eliminated as a candidate ahead of tomorrow’s third ballot. Soon after the results were announced, two of Mr Raab’s backers revealed they were switching their support to Mr Johnson, with more expected to follow. – Sky News …securing high profile backing from the likes of Andrea Leadsom and Damian Green… Boris Johnson gets a triple boost this morning with major endorsements from two of Matt Hancock’s former lieutenants and defeated rival Andrea Leadsom. Former de facto Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green and popular former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch both told the Standard they will back Mr Johnson in tonight’s second ballot. Ms Crouch, the MP for Chatham and Aylesford, said a key reason for her backing was that she was satisfied that Mr Johnson has dropped his controversial plan for an estuary airport to replace Heathrow’s third runway – a plan opposed in Kent where residents feared noise. Speaking to the Evening Standard Mr Green said: “After helping to run Matt Hancock’s One Nation campaign I am delighted to announce support for Boris Johnson. He will achieve a successful Brexit, and maintain the values of moderate Conservatism that are the best for the Party and the country.” Ms Leadsom, who was knocked out in the first round of voting, told LBC Radio: “I think he will be a very good leader for our country.” Explaining her support for the former London Mayor, Mrs Leadsom described him as an “election winner” and also referred to Brexit. – Evening Standard I’m backing Boris Johnson for leader, says Andrea Leadsom – The Times (£) > WATCH: Former Tory leadership contender Andrea Leadsom announces she’s backing Boris Johnson …as Rory Stewart survives while Dominic Raab is eliminated from today’s third ballot Dominic Raab, the former Brexit secretary who positioned himself as the hardest Eurosceptic candidate, was dumped out of the Tory leadership race on Tuesday, as his camp blamed Brexiters for flocking en masse to Boris Johnson. Raab had assembled an impressive team of former Vote Leave operatives to run his campaign but failed to gain the 33 votes needed from his party colleagues to progress to the third stage of the vote on Wednesday. The home secretary, Sajid Javid, scraped past Raab to just meet the 33-vote threshold, but both were leapfrogged by Rory Stewart, who has run an insurgent campaign on social media. Even minutes before the vote, teams backing Raab, Javid and Stewart all seemed uncertain they would progress. Stewart said he was “delighted” at the result but added: “There’s a long way to go. I’m still very much the underdog in this race.” MPs cited three issues for Raab. They blamed a failure to win over a solid bloc of votes from the hard Brexit European Research Group, who have backed Johnson, as well as a “Stop Raab” operation by moderate Tories who saw him as the most extreme candidate and his refusal to rule out proroguing parliament, which rival candidates openly attacked him for. – Guardian Tory leadership rivals clash over Brexit deadline in BBC debate Tory leadership rivals have clashed in a live BBC TV debate on whether the UK can leave the EU, no matter what, by the 31 October deadline. Asked for a guarantee he would do this, Boris Johnson described the deadline as “eminently feasible”. Sajid Javid said it “focused minds”, but Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt said extra time might be needed. Rory Stewart accused his colleagues of lacking realism – of “staring at the wall and saying ‘believe in Britain'”. The five men vying to be Conservative Party leader – and the UK’s next prime minister – were taking part in a live televised debate on BBC One. The former foreign secretary said the British people were “fed up” with the current deadlock over Brexit and the Tories would pay a “really serious price” if this continued. He warned of a “catastrophic loss of confidence in politics” if the latest Brexit deadline was not met. Asked if he could guarantee this, he replied that “October 31 is eminently feasible”. “If we allow 31 October to come and go as we let March come and go, I think the public would look on us with increasing mystification,” Mr Johnson said. He also suggested there was no issue with continuing free trade after Brexit – citing something called Article 24 of GATT – but as BBC Reality Check points out, that relies on the UK and EU both signing up and in the event of no deal, that will not happen. Mr Javid, who came fifth in Tuesday’s second round of voting, said a deadline was needed to “focus minds” in both the EU and the UK. – BBC News Mr Johnson, who turns 55 today, has so far largely avoided public scrutiny during the campaign. Last night he was pressed on his pledge to leave the EU by the October 31 Brexit deadline. He insisted that it was entirely feasible to agree a new deal within the time available. However, when the candidates were asked to indicate that they would guarantee to do so, only Mr Javid, 49, raised his hand. Mr Johnson claimed that the EU would be prepared to allow Britain to leave in October without the backstop, with future border arrangements negotiated during the transition period instead. He said that the presence of the Brexit Party in the European parliament would increase pressure on Brussels to complete a deal, and he suggested that if the EU refused to agree to his plans, under his leadership Britain would not pay the £39 billion divorce bill. “They want us out of the EU. They want this done. They don’t want a disorderly Brexit,” he said. – The Times (£) > WATCH: Brexit highlights from the BBC’s Conservative Party leadership debate Johnson hints at extending transition – and risks U-turn over October 31st exit Boris Johnson outlined a Brexit plan during a meeting with 40 business leaders which would keep Britain linked to the European Union until December 2021 and possibly mark a shocking U-turn over his no deal Brexit pledge, it has been claimed. Mr Johnson, who at the beginning of his Tory leadership campaign pledged to deliver Brexit by October 31 with or without a deal in place, suggested today during a private meeting with 40 British business leaders he may agree to extend the transition period to December 2021, according to the BBC. These months would be used to negotiate the terms of the much-discussed Irish backstop with Brussels, Simon Jack, the BBC’s business editor, wrote. Mr Jack wrote: “Mr Johnson’s plan appeared to be to defer the negotiations over the problematic Irish backstop till after the UK leaves the EU on 31 October. “He proposed extending the transition period till December 2021, which would give everyone enough time to negotiate a free-trade deal and come up with the technology to ensure no physical infrastructure would be required at the Irish border.” However, a transition period would maintain the UK under the influence of Brussels without any saying in the EU’s lawmaking process, something Brexiteers have often spoken against. – Express EU clashes with UK over pact for 4 million citizens’ rights in no-deal scenario UK and EU chiefs have clashed over how best to guarantee more than 4million citizens’ rights in a No Deal Brexit. Tory ministers have asked Brussels for a “ring-fence” to help British expats on October 31 – after they made a similar pledge to help EU citizens living in the UK. In a letter released today, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said this would be “far superior” to the current approach of negotiating with 27 other countries individually. But EU chief Michel Barnier warned ring-fencing people’s rights is “far from straightforward”. Although he promised “no British national will be left in the dark,” Mr Barnier said agreeing a Brexit deal should remain the number one priority. The fresh clash comes after Theresa May guaranteed EU citizens could retain their rights in the UK, even if there is a No Deal Brexit on October 31. For years Mrs May refused to guarantee the 3.64m EU citizens living in the UK could keep all the rights they currently have to live, work and settle, no matter what. First, she wanted a similar guarantee for 785,000 British citizens who live in the EU (excluding the UK and Ireland). But she made a pledge after a legal bid by Conservative MP Alberto Costa, in a row that cost him a government job. That means although EU citizens are protected, when it comes to British expats there are “gaps” that could risk them losing services like healthcare in No Deal. Now Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has written to the EU’s Michel Barnier asking for an EU-wide agreement. Mr Barclay, who has met Mr Costa and campaign group the 3Million, asked Brussels to consider a “ring-fence” that will protect people in all 28 nations. – Mirror Michel Barnier rejects attempt by UK to guarantee protection of citizens’ rights in a No Deal Brexit as fresh row over Withdrawal Agreement boils over – MailOnline > WATCH: EU Citizens’ Rights Urgent Question from Alberto Costa Germany warns Tory leadership contenders they won’t be able to renegotiate Theresa May’s deal Germany lined up behind other EU states and official to warn that a new UK prime minister will not be able to renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal agreement struck between the EU and Theresa May. Michael Roth, the country’s EU affairs minister, warned that there was simply no appetite in the EU to re-open talks on the deal. His warning – a reiteration of previous EU statements on the matter – comes as Tory leadership contenders line up to pledge changes to Brexit and further talks in Brussels. “I don’t see any chances to renegotiate the package, the withdrawal agreement is the withdrawal agreement, and I don’t see any appetite to start new negotiations within the European Union,” Mr Roth said on arrival for a regular meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg. Asked whether he thought the UK was “deluded” on the issue, he said: “I don’t want to speculate. But the message of the European Union is crystal clear on this issue.” Other EU ministers had a similar message. Sweden’s EU affairs minister Hans Dahlgren said he had been watching the Tory leadership race, telling reporters: “I think our position is clear. This withdrawal agreement is a firm agreement that we stick to. When it comes to the future, the political declaration, we can always accommodate, have a discussion. But on the terms of the withdrawal agreement, that’s where we stand.” – Independent A Brexit extension is inevitable if the new Prime Minister wants a different deal, says former UK ambassador to the EU If the new Prime Minister wants to cut a different deal with the European Union then a Brexit extension is inevitable, a leading former British ambassador to the EU has warned, accusing the UK’s political class of “denial, delusion-mongering and deception” over Brexit. Sir Ivan Rogers, the ambassador who was forced out under Theresa May after advising a new trade deal with Europe would take ten years to finalise, also warned that European capitals were increasingly resigning themselves to the prospect of a ‘no deal’ Brexit. “It is completely obvious already, incidentally, that no new deal could under any conceivable circumstances, be negotiated and passed in the House by October 31,” Sir Ivan said in a wide-ranging speech in the City of London. With new Prime Minister likely to focus on delivering a Free Trade Agreement with Europe and leaving the EU customs union, Sir Ivan said that the EU was not likely to agree a ‘time-limit’ to the Irish backstop demanded by many leading candidates. The prospect of rewarding “an avid Brexit campaigner and a populist with Trumpite attributes” a better deal that Theresa May would be too much for EU leaders to stomach, he surmised. – Telegraph (£) A new resident in Downing Street will not move Dublin’s position on Brexit, says Irish Deputy PM A change of British prime minister will not result in a change in the Irish Government’s stance on Brexit, the Irish foreign affairs minister said. Simon Coveney said the Government’s position had not changed and will not change because of Theresa May leaving her role. His comments came as some of the candidates in the Conservative party leadership campaign to replace Mrs May raised the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. “The Government’s position has not changed and it does not change because there is a change of British prime minister,” Mr Coveney told the Irish parliament on Tuesday. “This has never been about personalities. It has always been about evidence, facts and trying to deal with the complexity of the decision of a country and economy the size of the UK to leave the European Union, of which it has been a part for 47 years. “The approximately 57 trade deals it has in place, the 70 billion euro trade relationship it has with Ireland, and the fact that we share responsibility for a peace process on this island, all make the UK’s exit from the European Union very complicated. That is why the withdrawal agreement, which deals with that complexity in terms of the divorce arrangements for leaving, if one wishes to call it that, took two and a half years to negotiate. That is the EU’s and Ireland’s position and it is not going to change with a new person taking charge, regardless of what is being said and claimed. The facts do not change.” – Belfast Telegraph Philip Hammond to pave way for overhaul of City regulation post-Brexit Philip Hammond will lay the foundations on Thursday for an overhaul of the City’s post-Brexit regulatory landscape just weeks before he expects to be ousted by the next prime minister. Sky News has learnt that Mr Hammond will use his annual speech at the Mansion House dinner to launch a review of the financial services industry’s future regulatory framework – delivering on a commitment he made as part of his spring statement three months ago. Insiders said that the review, which is intended to last for several months, would be led by the Treasury but is likely to have as its figurehead an as-yet unidentified expert on the regulation of the financial services sector. Mr Hammond’s move to launch the study will come after intense lobbying by prominent City figures who want to ensure that London’s status as one of the world’s leading financial centres is not jeopardised by continuing uncertainty about the terms of Britain’s departure from the EU. In a written statement in March, the Treasury said its review would consult “on how to ensure our financial services regulatory framework adapts to our new constitutional position outside the European Union”. – Sky News Tory party members would rather damage the economy, destroy their party and break up the UK than cancel Brexit, suggests poll… A majority of Tory Party members, who are due to choose the UK’s next Prime Minister, would prefer to see the break up of the union, damage to the economy and the destruction of their own party, rather than Brexit being cancelled, according to a new poll by YouGov. Members of what is officially the Conservative and Unionist Party were surveyed by the pollsters between the 11 -14 of June and the results indicate members are willing to make great sacrifices to deliver Brexit. The results showed that 63 percent of the 892 members surveyed would want to see Brexit delivered even if it meant Scotland left the UK, while 59 percent would do the same if Northern Ireland left the Union. Around 61 percent would also countenance significant damage to the UK economy as a price for delivering Brexit, with 54 percent saying they would accept the Conservative Party being destroyed rather than rowing back on the UK’s decision to leave the EU made in the 2016 referendum. However, a slim majority of party members said they would rather cancel Brexit that allow Jeremy Corbyn to become Prime Minister with 51 percent saying that would be too high a cost, compared with 39 percent saying it would be worth it. Just over half of those surveyed said that they think failing to leave the EU would permanently damage the centuries-old party’s chances of leading a Government, with an additional 29 percent believing it would keep the party out of power for multiple general elections. – iNews …and they also want the next Conservative leader to be willing to leave the EU without a deal The next leader of the Conservative party must be willing to take the UK out of Europe without a deal according to a poll of members. A wide-ranging survey, released by YouGov, also shows that Boris Johnson fares best in terms of who members think would make the best leader, while Rory Stewart comes last. A majority of members would also rather see the destruction of their party than for Brexit not to happen, and would support a leadership candidate with a good Brexit plan even if they felt their domestic policies were poor. As many as 83 per cent of those polled said it would be acceptable for the next leader of the party to have voted Leave in 2016 and be willing to take the UK out of Europe without a deal, versus just 29 per cent who said it would be acceptable if the leader was a Leaver unwilling to pursue no-deal. In a sign that the members would be happy to embrace a Re-Leaver – somebody who voted Remain in 2016 but now supports Brexit – the same pattern on no-deal willingness was observed when members were questioned about somebody who campaigned for Remain in the referendum. – Telegraph (£) Nigel Farage says Brexit Party pact with Johnson would deliver ‘massive majority’ on no-deal election ticket The Brexit Party could form an election pact with Boris Johnson aimed at delivering a “massive” Commons majority for a clean exit from the EU, Nigel Farage has signalled. The former Ukip leader said if Mr Johnson became Prime Minister and had the “guts” to fight an election on a no-deal ticket, then there “is a deal that could be done” with his burgeoning party. Mr Farage’s comments on Tuesday night, at Nigel Farage On Brexit: Live, an event hosted by The Telegraph, represented a boost for Mr Johnson, the front-runner to succeed Theresa May, after the MEP previously dismissed calls for his candidates to stand aside for Tory MPs committed to Brexit. However, Mr Farage, who quit the Conservatives in 1992, insisted that none of the candidates to become Tory leader understood that their party would be “finished” if it failed to deliver a clean exit by Oct 31 – the current deadline agreed with the EU. Asked about the prospect of forming a pact with the Tories under Mr Johnson, Mr Farage, whose party topped the polls in last month’s European Parliament elections, said: “If he has the guts to be prepared to be voted down by Parliament, to call an election on a clean Brexit, then I would suggest that … logically there is a deal that could be done, and in those circumstances Boris would come back with a massive, massive majority.” – Telegraph (£) Nigel Farage says election pact with Boris Johnson could deliver ‘massive majority’ – Express EU prepares to cut off Swiss stock exchanges in warning to Brexit Britain Brussels is increasingly likely to cut off Swiss stock exchanges from the EU’s single market to send a “warning shot” to Bern but also to Brexit Britain. Internal documents revealed that the European Commission is prepared to take a hard line with Switzerland to send a “crystal-clear” message to Britain that the EU is not prepared to compromise on its single market rules. “We simply cannot accept further attempts at foot-dragging and watering down internal market rules, especially in what is probably the decisive phase regarding Brexit,” a document presented to today’s weekly meeting of all 28 EU commissioners read. Swiss access to the EU’s single market is governed by a system of ‘equivalence’, which can be withdrawn by the commission. The equivalence expires at the end of July, unless it is renewed. The commission has said it will only renew if Bern made progress towards agreeing an overall EU-Swiss agreement, which would replace the current patchwork of individual deals governing the relationship between Switzerland and the bloc. The commission document, which was discussed before a final decision will be made, said, “An expiry of the ‘equivalence’ may be just the warning shot across the bow they need.” Today in Brussels, with two weeks before the deadline, the commission said not enough progress was being made after Bern had asked for clarifications on protecting Swiss wages, regulating state aid, and spelling out citizens’ rights. British financial services access to the EU will be governed by “equivalence” under the terms of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Financial services firms will lose their EU passport once Britain leaves the bloc. It is unlikely in the short term that Brussels would attempt similar hardball tactics with the City of London. – Telegraph (£) Brussels set to make example of the Swiss in Brexit warning – The Times (£) Asa Bennett: With Dominic Raab out, Boris Johnson is now free to be the toughest Brexiteer standing Every politician dreams of being able to pick their opponents. Boris Johnson is no different, as he has to rely on his fellow Tory MPs to decide upon who deserves to stay in the race against him to be the next Prime Minister. The Tory leadership frontrunner has particular reason to be interested in the results of today’s second ballot of MPs as he has to face those who are still in the race in the BBC studio tonight to debate their contrasting visions. Mr Johnson did not have to worry about his own status coming under threat, given that MPs have continued to swing behind him such as Damian Green, Tracey Crouch and recently ousted rival Andrea Leadsom. But he will be annoyed that Rory Stewart squeaked through, given the damage he can do as a maverick outsider with little to lose. Rory Stewart has the most disruptive potential of those still in the race. The self-confessed “Marmite candidate” prompted Michael Gove to issue a plea in the Times this morning about setting up a “polarised” end to the contest by having voting Mr Stewart through. Mr Johnson would have been trapped between the Tory Brexit Scylla and Charybdis with both Mssrs Raab and Stewart still in the race, under fire from the former over his apparent enthusiasm for a no-deal and the latter for being too soft. That is why he will be relieved Tory MPs at least knocked out the only one who could out-Brexit him, so he can focus on fighting candidates that are easier to paint as blander continuity figures who are not so gung-ho like Jeremy Hunt. With Mr Raab no longer in the race, Mr Johnson no longer risks getting embroiled in a row about prorogation that could anger his Remainy backers. And now he can pose as the toughest Brexiteer in the race, able to boast that no one else in the race voted against Theresa May’s deal as many times as he did to prove his authenticity. That is a great boast to be able to make to Tory MPs and members as they decide on who should sort out Brexit. – Asa Bennett for the Telegraph (£) The Sun: The one thing made clear in the Tory leadership debate is that Rory Stewart has no real plan for anything The latest shambolic Tory leadership debate generated far more heat than light. Almost all five candidates left in the race are determined to deliver Brexit on or around October 31. Great. Almost all want to cut taxes — currently at their highest level in 50 years. Great. We say “almost all”. Because Rory Stewart’s “plan” for Brexit is to bring back Theresa May’s deal, defeated three times, for a fourth vote. Why? He had the nerve to sneer at others for being unrealistic — then produced the most unrealistic solution of the lot. Nor would Rory cut our sky-high taxes. Because, he says, public services need the cash. OK. But lowering taxes creates jobs, stimulates growth and generates income for those public services. The one thing clear above all the shouting generated by the BBC’s farcical format was this: Rory’s popularity may be increasing with Remainer MPs. But he has no real plan for anything. Nor any ambition beyond continuing whatever it was Mrs May was doing. Quite how he thinks he would win back the 26 per cent of voters currently backing the Brexit Party — many of them former Tories — is anyone’s guess. His rivals did fine. Boris Johnson did not excel nor implode. No one laid a glove on him. But he didn’t answer the crucial question either: How will he get Brexit over the line on October 31 if Parliament blocks No Deal and the EU refuses to fix the backstop? – The Sun says Brexit in Brief Rory Stewart could be the next Boris Johnson. A pity that he’s a Remainer – Lucy Denver for the Telegraph (£) Man who attacked Nigel Farage with milkshake admits assault charge – Telegraph (£)