Hard Brexit puts the Union at risk, says Sturgeon… The SNP leader opened her party conference in Glasgow with a direct challenge to Theresa May that “the ball is in your court” over whether the Union will survive. She said that she would attempt to secure a soft Brexit for Scotland within the UK — which would require greater devolution — and the “chance of success will depend, not on us, but on the attitude of the UK government”. If a hard Brexit looks likely, she will call an independence referendum before Britain leaves the EU. –The Times (£) …as she fires the starting gun on a second independence referendum The Scottish Government will publish a Bill for a second independence referendum within days, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced. She said the move is necessary so Scots can reconsider the issue in light of the vote for Brexit and “to do so before the UK leaves the EU”. She told delegates at the SNP conference in Glasgow that an Independence Referendum Bill is to be published for consultation by her Government next week. – ITV News New SNP deputy leader: ‘We must start campaign for independence now’ – The Guardian Edinburgh’s warning to Theresa May: Don’t block second independence referendum – Politico Nicola Sturgeon faces Momentum-style rebellion – Daily Telegraph Nicola Sturgeon should be seeking a deal not issuing threats of a new referendum – Alan Cochrane in the Daily Telegraph Brexit has caught the SNP between its members and the voters – Henry Hill for ConservativeHome Nicola Sturgeon’s cherished Brexit grievance rears its head – Alex Massie for The Spectator’s Coffee House blog Nicola Sturgeon’s manoeuvres offer a chance to shape Brexit – Martin Kettle for The Guardian German trade bodies back Angela Merkel’s tough stance over Brexit Speaking at a briefing in Brussels, the presidents of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) said that granting Britain an opt-out from the four freedoms – free movement of goods, services, capital and persons – could amount to the “beginning of the end” of the single market.- The Guardian Donald Tusk thinks Britons may yet change their mind on Brexit Britain may decide not to leave the EU when faced with the reality of a “hard Brexit”, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council said last night, warning that the upcoming divorce talks would be “painful”… As pressure continued to rise over the falling pound, Mr Tusk, who next week will chair a European Council meeting in Brussels which will be Mrs May’s first as prime minister, said it was “pure illusion” that Britain could leave the EU while retaining the benefits of membership. He singled out Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, for saying that Britain could have its cake and eat it. “The brutal truth is that Brexit will be a loss for all of us,” Mr Tusk added. “There will be no cakes on the table for anyone. There will be only salt and vinegar.” – Daily Telegraph Martin Schulz: Brexit risks ‘mutual humiliation’ of UK and EU – Politico Canada PM warning to Brussels: if you won’t do a trade deal with us, what is the point of the EU? – Daily Telegraph ‘Hard Brexit’ is the only Brexit warns EU president Donald Tusk – Sky News Boris Johnson: Brexit doom-mongers are wrong – BBC The Economist’s Buttonwood reflects on the end of Marmitegate So why did Unilever suggest an across-the-board price hike instead of targeting only overseas-sourced brands? It is not completely illogical. As you can see from its quarterly results, Unilever reports in euros. So even if the cost of producing Marmite has not risen because of the falling pound, the sterling proceeds of Marmite sales are worth less than before. It is thus not surprising that Unilever is trying to get that money back. Nor is it surprising that Tesco, trapped in a price war with discounters like Aldi and Lidl, is resisting. The only surprise is that the news has leaked out, largely it seems because Tesco is refusing to stock Unilever brands. – The Economist Tesco and Unilever end price dispute – BBC Brexit deal may push up prices, admits Lord Bridges – The Times (£) Marmitegate is the “thin end of the wedge” for the retail industry – City A.M. The Marmite war is over – now let’s fight to cash in on the falling pound – Fraser Nelson in the Daily Telegraph Will Brexit butcher the banking system? One irony of the impending Brexit negotiations is that Britain’s most important industry is its least popular one: financial services. As a banker lamented to me this week, this isn’t the case in Germany, where manufacturing industry is a source of national pride. This creates a particular issue, because few politicians would want to argue publicly for compromises on, say, controls over immigration for the sake of bankers’ access to EU markets. – James Forsyth in The Spectator How “regulatory equivalence” might help the City post-Brexit – Andrew Lilico for Reaction What’s Basel? 7 things everyone should know – Politico Dominic Raab MP: This Brexit court challenge is a legal nonsense and a naked attempt to block the EU referendum result In her secondary arguments, however, Ms Miller reveals her true colours. Her lawyers complain the British people were duped into Brexit, and now need to be saved by MPs from their deluded verdict. This is not a clarion call for Parliamentary scrutiny. It is a naked attempt to frustrate the verdict of the referendum, by placing obstacles in the way of delivering it. It’s ridiculous to suggest Parliament has a veto over the decision to begin negotiations with the EU, given the mandate from the British people. – Dominic Raab MP for the Daily Telegraph Brian Christopher Jones: Do not turn Brexit into Britain’s version of Bush v Gore We should be wary about involving the courts to make a ruling on Article 50. They are not routinely invited to sort out high-level UK constitutional questions. Doing so is only likely to politicise a branch of government that has been steadily gaining influence and legitimacy within the UK, and is now largely looked upon as containing independent arbiters that uphold human rights and the rule of law. In this matter the courts should take heed of Bush v Gore, and not wade into what is ultimately a political decision that has already been sanctioned by parliament. – Brian Christopher Jones for The Conversation Michael Gove MP: Brexiteers don’t want a brick wall at our border The public want democratic control of migration, not a brick wall. When people complain about the pound I would say, with respect, that the public made it clear their priority is to see the millions of pounds we give Brussels control over, every week, back in our own hands as soon as possible. And when people demand we stay in the single market I would, in my best dispatch box understatement, refer back to the answer a majority of my fellow citizens gave some moments ago. – Michael Gove MP for The Times (£) Iain Martin: Brexit is working. Parliament is asserting itself One of the first and most interesting consequences of Brexit is that it is rapidly pulling politics out of shape. This can be seen most glaringly in the welcome assertion by Parliament of its rights. There are those who see in the cross party campaign to force a vote on Article 50 and the eventual terms a coup against the will of the electorate. While it is true that there will be a March of five million angry people on London if parliament tries to overturn Brexit, it is perfectly justifiable and sensible for the Commons to want to test the government, scrutinise the deal and in the right circumstances put what emerges to a number of votes. The UK is leaving the EU, but there is not – yet – agreement on how to do it exactly. Parliament is getting stuck in. Good. – Iain Martin for Reaction Emran Mian: It’s not just the government; Remainers and soft Brexiters are in disarray too If the government was to call their bluff and call a vote on the terms of Brexit now, how many of them would actually vote to retain some form of free movement? Many Labour MPs have already said that free movement must end. Conservatives will have to take a double political risk, rebelling against their party whip as well as opposing public opinion. And what level of contribution to the EU budget would those opposed to hard Brexit consider acceptable? How many of the billions to be repatriated from Brussels are they willing to forgo? – Emran Mian for The Times RedBox Brexit comment in brief The Guardian view on the Brexit debate: parliament must be heard – The Guardian The prime minister should allow a vote on the invocation of Article 50 – The Times (£) leader Why Brexit will hurt the prospects for peace in the Middle East – Ranj Alaaldin for The Guardian Mayor of London Sadiq Khan must remember refugees and asylum seekers in his bespoke Brexit deal – Madeleine Crowther in City A.M. Theresa May’s statism is the wrong way to build a more prosperous post-Brexit Britain – John O’Connell in City A.M. If the Government won’t build new infrastructure let others have a go – Juliet Samuel in the Daily Telegraph HM Treasury should stick to its job, and not try to dictate the terms of Brexit – Jeremy Warner for the Daily Telegrpah Now we have to make Brexit work – Gerard Lyons interviewed by Varsity Brexit news in brief The Article 50 challenge shows parliament should have its say – FT (£) Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns says Brexit will be good for Wales – Wales Online The number of businesses in the UK hits a record high – Daily Telegraph BBC hits back at Daily Mail accusation of ‘Brexit bias’ – The Guardian Taking a pounding: The fall in sterling hints at how painful a “hard” Brexit would be – The Economist Foreign students are welcomed by overwhelming majority of voters – The Times (£) Other countries don’t worry this much about immigration – why does Britain? – Left Foot Forward Emily Thornberry hammered over Labour’s stance on migration – Daily Express Lord Wolfson warns against isolationist Brexit course – The Guardian Top auditor: Europeans have lost trust in EU institutions – Politico