What President-Elect Trump potentially means for #Brexit Britain explained in 75 seconds. #USElection2016 pic.twitter.com/U9d4DbQXLR — BrexitCentral (@BrexitCentral) November 9, 2016 Donald Trump and Theresa May reaffirm ‘Special Relationship’ U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke to U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday to affirm America’s special relationship with Britain and invite May to visit him “as soon as possible”… During the call, May highlighted her intention to strengthen investment and bilateral trade with the U.S. in light of Brexit. She also noted that Britain and the U.S. “have always stood together as close allies.” – Time Trump wants ‘Reagan-Thatcher style relationship’ with May – ITV News Brexit Britain needs the closest possible relationship with Donald Trump’s America – Daily Telegraph editorial Boris Johnson says Trump’s victory represents a “great opportunity” for the UK to build a relationship with the US – City A.M. Jacob Rees-Mogg says Trump’s win is a boost for Britain because Obama was ‘unsympathetic’ to Brexit – Daily Express How the Conservatives are rebuilding their links with the Republicans – Paul Goodman for ConservativeHome US result may help May’s cause in Brexit talks – Philip Webster for The Times (£) Red Box Downing Street strongly reject claims that Nigel Farage will act as “go-between” with Trump The Daily Telegraph says ministers will have to seek the advice of UKIP’s interim leader because they have no links to the president-elect. But sources close to the prime minister denied the government lacked contacts with Mr Trump’s team. They said Mr Farage, who campaigned for Mr Trump, was an “irrelevance”… International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has also insisted he has no intention of using Mr Farage as a go-between… A source close to Mr Farage made it clear that he had no intention of working with Conservative ministers. – BBC Donald Trump actually likes the UK. He supported Brexit and understands our post-Brexit values – Nigel Farage MEP in The Sun Britain has been foolish to scorn Donald Trump. We must now extend the hand of friendship – Nigel Farage MEP in the Daily Telegraph (£) Crispin Blunt MP: If Donald Trump’s America won’t defend Europe from Russia, Britain’s Brexit negotiating position gets much stronger Europe now needs its premier defence power, Britain, to be as closely involved in European defence as possible. Britain is a full-spectrum military power, so we can provide conventional land forces, air power and naval capabilities, as well as capabilities in cyber and intelligence. These are all very important to providing European security, and it will be important to the 27 to secure a deal in the Article 50 negotiations that includes continuing British defence commitment. That could give Britain important leverage in those talks. – Foreign Affairs Select Committee Chairman Crispin Blunt MP in the Daily Telegraph America cannot be relied on to defend Europe, says Juncker – The Times (£) EU Commission President Juncker to press ahead with Euro Army plan – Daily Express James Blitz: Could Europe’s view of Britain change after Trump? There are three reasons why, post-Trump, European governments might have to start viewing the UK in a less uncompromising way. First, Brexit no longer looks like the isolated and populist outburst that it once seemed… Second, Mr Trump’s victory may give the British much more leverage with the EU over a future trade deal… Third, the EU now has to think much harder about the security of the continent against a resurgent Russia. – James Blitz in the FT (£) Donald Trump’s ambiguous trade policy is a massive opportunity for Britain – Shanker Singham in City A.M. The parallels between Brexit and Trumpery have been absurdly overdone – Daniel Hannan MEP for ConservativeHome Lawyers for Britain to apply to intervene in the Supreme Court in Article 50 appeal… Having reviewed the Judgment of the Divisional Court and the arguments presented by the parties, Lawyers for Britain have decided to apply to the Supreme Court for permission to intervene in the appeal as an organisation seeking to make submissions in the public interest… In taking this step, we believe that we are seeking to represent the wider interests of all who participated in the Leave campaign and of the 17.4 million people of this country who voted to leave the European Union. – Lawyers for Britain …as assorted MPs confirm they will vote against triggering Article 50 Liberal Democrat, Labour and SDLP MPs have told the BBC they are prepared to vote against triggering Article 50. Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said his party would oppose it, unless they were promised a second referendum on the UK’s Brexit deal with EU leaders. Several Labour MPs are also willing to vote against it, despite the Labour Party pledging not to do so… Shadow minister Catherine West, former leadership contender Owen Smith and south London MP Helen Hayes all made clear they were prepared to vote against Article 50 – BBC An Article 50 Brexit Bill is now even more likely to pass than before – Mark Wallace for ConservativeHome Blow for Sturgeon as Irish reject plea for direct talks over Brexit Nicola Sturgeon’s drive to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU has suffered a major blow after Ireland confirmed it would not enter direct talks with Holyrood over her plans. Joe McHugh, the Dublin Government’s minister for the Diaspora and International Development, said formal talks over Brexit would take place only with London, undermining Ms Sturgeon’s aim of directly lobbying other member states. – Herald Scotland Chinese vice-premier hopeful that UK and EU will reach a “win-win” Brexit deal… Philip Hammond has described the UK’s relationship with China as “more important than ever”, as he hosted the country’s vice-premier for trade talks in London. He promised a “golden era” of relations, with the announcement of several deals. Vice-Premier Ma Kai added that he wanted to see the UK and EU reach a “win-win” deal over Brexit. Formal talks on the UK’s departure from the EU are due to start next year. – BBC …as more Chinese banks line up for London More Chinese banks want to set up shop in London despite the Brexit vote which has prompted foreign lenders in the capital to consider bases in continental Europe. British and Chinese government officials met in London on Thursday to unveil a “strategic plan” to deepen financial and economic ties between the two countries. – Reuters Theresa May welcomes £1.7bn Chinese project in London’s Docklands – FT (£) The new bridge to China heralds the start of a golden age for UK fintech – Eileen Burbidge for City A.M. Turkey ‘reaches agreement’ on UK trade deal after Brexit Turkey has agreed to negotiate a comprehensive free trade agreement with the UK after Britain completes its exit from the EU, Ankara’s economy minister has said. In a statement to local press on Thursday, Turkey’s Nihat Zeybekci said the two countries had agreed to “implement a wide-ranging trade agreement”, after Britain’s exit procedures with Brussels are completed. – FT (£) This week’s India trade mission netted more than £1 billion in deals The Prime Minister’s first trade mission resulted in £1.2 billion worth of business between UK and Indian companies. The Prime Minister used the visit to deliver on the ambitious vision for Britain after Brexit forging a new global role for the UK as a country with the self-confidence and the freedom to look beyond the continent of Europe. – Gov.uk Business leaders propose London-only work visa plan for Brexit Britain Business leaders have outlined their vision of a London-only visa that would allow them to maintain access to foreign labour. Under the proposals from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, businesses in the UK capital would be able to sponsor skilled workers with a job offer for a visa. Although the idea faces practical and political hurdles, the LCCI hopes that the UK’s reliance on London’s economic success, which is heavily dependent on immigrant labour, will persuade the government to consider it. – FT (£) Are London-only visas a pragmatic solution or a bureaucratic nightmare? – Richard Brown and Denis MacShane for City A.M. London’s tech sector will continue to thrive in wake of Brexit London’s technology sector will continue to grow, create jobs and boost the UK economy over the next 10 years, according to new findings announced by the deputy mayor of business Rajesh Agrawal today. The research, commissioned by London & Partners, said the capital will see employment grow by 18.5% over the next decade to 284,400 jobs by 2026, while the number of digital tech companies will increase by 33.2% over the same period to 61,800. – Startups Michael Gove MP: It was wrong to criticise the integrity of the judges who made the ruling on Article 50 I know I’m supposed to be exercised by the high-handed manner in which these three unelected experts so arrogantly thwarted the clearly expressed will of the British people. But I refuse to be enlisted into the angry brigade, and decline to accept the caricature response that some wish Leavers to adopt. – Michael Gove MP in The Times (£) The Economist: Behind the legal rows over the procedure for leaving the European Union lie deep differences over the right form of Brexit Mr Davis and his colleagues insist that more parliamentary say over Brexit would reduce the chances of a good deal. But experience in Brussels suggests the opposite: greater transparency and parliamentary guidance would strengthen not weaken Mrs May’s hand. By bolstering Parliament’s role, the judges may have nudged Britain towards a better Brexit. – The Economist James Frayne: Businesses should be wary of unwittingly entering the political fray with their post-Brexit price rises More businesses are justifying price rises by blaming the fall in the pound post-Brexit. Whatever their commercial reasons, this is an extremely dangerous game. Commenting in these ways means entering the political arena at a sensitive time. These firms should be ready for serious scrutiny and hostile comment – now, but more importantly in the months ahead. – James Frayne in City A.M. The Economist’s Bagehot: Brexit should stimulate a big constitutional debate Once Brexit negotiations begin, the cabinet, MPs, devolved legislatures, the House of Lords and sometimes the judiciary will find themselves in multi-dimensional tugs-of-war. Who, for example, should scrutinise all the legislation returning from Brussels to British statute books? Should those powers revert to the national level, or be devolved further down? Should Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast have the right to veto any final deal? Can MPs reasonably do so? – Bagehot in The Economist Brexit comment in brief The liberal elite have not learned anything since Brexit – Rod Liddle in The Sun Invest, Devolve, Liberate: A New Economic Policy in the Light of Brexit – Demos Brexit news in brief AstraZeneca boss spies opportunities from Trump and Brexit – Daily Telegraph Farming minister George Eustice urges farmers to ‘remove blinkers’ of EU membership for post-Brexit policy – Farmers Guardian Brexit is an opportunity to revamp Europe’s financial landscape, according to Milan – City A.M. JP Morgan chief warns Hammond over Brexit terms – Sky News