Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team PM ‘has the backing of everyone’ in Cabinet for today’s Florence speech on Brexit… Theresa May “has the backing of all of us”, a minister has said after the Prime Minister chaired a marathon two-and-a-half hour Cabinet meeting. David Gauke expressed his support for Mrs May after she briefed ministers on her keynote speech in Florence, which she will deliver tomorrow. Among the last to leave the meeting were Chancellor Philip Hammond and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who walked out together in an apparent show of unity amid reports of disagreements over Britain’s future relationship with the EU. – Telegraph (£) Theresa May will give her Brexit speech in Florence tomorrow safe in the knowledge that she finally has the full backing of her Cabinet – at least, until the warm prosecco comes out at party conference. After a difficult week, Cabinet ministers today met for a two-and-a-half hour meeting where approval was given. In an attempt to demonstrate unity, the two poles of the Cabinet’s Brexit debate – Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson – left No 10 together. Whether this new Cabinet unity can last is another matter entirely.- Katy Balls for The Spectator May’s charm offensive secures a cabinet ceasefire on Brexit – for now – The Times (£) Theresa May lures Boris Johnson towards two-year Brexit deal – The Times (£) Theresa May hoping for her own renaissance in Florence – Henry Zeffman for The Times (£) … where she will reportedly offer two more years of cash for complete freedom and a free trade deal Theresa May will today offer the EU a Brexit grand bargain – two more years of money and abiding by its laws in exchange for complete freedom and a jumbo trade deal afterwards. The PM will unveil the offer – revealed in detail by The Sun today – in a landmark speech in the Italian city of Florence. It is her bid to break the deadlock in exit talks, as well as the result of a major compromise deal between factions in her Cabinet who have been warring all summer. Britain will then also be totally free to sign and implement any new trade deals with fast-growing countries across the world. – The Sun Theresa May will today tell EU leaders that they share a “profound sense of responsibility” to forge a Brexit deal for the benefit of those who “inherit the world we leave them”. The Prime Minister will use a landmark speech in Florence to tell European negotiators and heads of state that “the eyes of the world are upon us” and that they must use imagination to make a success of “this chapter of our European history”. Employing positive rhetoric that evokes Boris Johnson’s intervention in The Daily Telegraph last week, Mrs May will insist that “the future is bright” as she sets out her vision of Britain’s post-Brexit relationship with Europe.- Telegraph (£) May unites cabinet with £20bn plan for 2-year Brexit transition – The Times (£) Cummings says Florence speech will “fail” to break impasse – City A.M. PM bids to break deadlock with two-year deal offer – BBC Theresa May to pledge protection for EU citizens in landmark Brexit speech – Evening Standard This is what May will say to break the Brexit impasse – City A.M. Theresa May to ask EU to be ‘creative’ about Brexit in Florence speech – Guardian Four experts on what we can expect from Theresa May’s big speech on Brexit in Florence today .- The Times (£) Theresa May’s Florentine gambit – Tom Mctague for Politico What May must say – Rory Broomfield for CommentCentral What would Machiavelli advise Theresa May to say in Florence? – Erica Benner for the Telegraph (£) An overdue opportunity – Matthew O’toole for Politico Theresa May hoping for her own renaissance in Florence – Henry Zeffman for The Times (£) EU will listen closely to what Theresa May has to say – Lucy Fisher for The Times (£) Theresa May must show that we mean business after she makes generous offer to the EU – The Sun editorial Theresa May’s Florence speech is a truly important meeting – Express editorial In Florence, Theresa May can show the EU that Brexit is not about nativist intolerance – Fraser Nelson for the Telegraph (£) > Listen: Jonathan Isaby tells Nick Ferrari on LBC that Britain is in a strong position Barnier criticises May for causing ‘major uncertainty’… The European Union’s Brexit bosses today heaped pressure on Theresa May the day before she delivers a crucial speech on the future relationship between the UK and the EU in Florence. Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator, today told the Italian Parliament in Rome that he could not understand where there was still “major uncertainty” over the British positions on the issues of the Irish border, citizens’ rights and the so-called Brexit Bill of up to 100 billion euros. “I’m wondering why – beyond the progress we’ve made on certain points – there is still today major uncertainty on each of the key issues of the first phase,” he said. – Telegraph (£) Barnier: Just one year left to strike Brexit deal – City A.M. EU tells Britain to ‘settle the accounts’ and speed up Brexit progress – Guardian …but insists he is not out for revenge over Brexit… The European Union’s chief negotiator flew to Rome yesterday to warn the Italian parliament that Britain must not be given a free ride as it leaves the bloc. Making a reference to “major uncertainties” in the Brexit talks, Michel Barnier told a committee hearing at the Italian Senate: “To make progress we are waiting for clear commitments from the UK on these precise issues. “We will listen attentively and constructively to Theresa May’s important speech tomorrow in Florence. “A rapid agreement on the conditions of the UK’s orderly withdrawal, and a transition period, is possible.- The Times (£) …after it emerged no one from the Commission was invited to May’s Speech No one from the European Commission will be attending Theresa May’s major Brexit speech in Florence tomorrow. A spokesman for the EU told City A.M. that there would be no official representation from the EC, including chief negotiator Michel Barnier and his team. He was “not aware” of being sent an invitation, adding: “I don’t know if we would go anyway.” The spokesman noted that London was closer to Brussels than Florence. – City A.M. May will open champagne at Chequers after speech to get Tory MPs onside Theresa May will use a champagne reception at Chequers tomorrow to improve relations with her backbench MPs. The prime minister has invited about 30 Conservative MPs and their partners to the 16th-century residence in Buckinghamshire as part of efforts to shore up her position after the party lost seats at the general election. The guest list is understood to include about ten MPs from the 2015 and 2017 intake, signalling moves to unite the pro-Remain and Eurosceptic wings of her party around her plan for breaking the deadlock in Brexit negotiations.- The Times (£) Sir Keir Starmer rips up party’s pledge to end freedom of movement Labour’s Brexit chief ripped up the party’s pledge to end freedom of movement yesterday after he said EU migrants would continue to be free to enter Britain for up to three months. Sir Keir Starmer insisted freedom of movement rules will “have to change” after Brexit but said EU workers could be allowed to stay for up to three months without a job. He said there’s “a big question” over Britain’s future immigration policy but suggested the UK could simply operate different free movement rules.- The Sun Dyson cleans up after worldwide sales surge Sir James Dyson, the billionaire entrepreneur behind the famous electrical product range, has pocketed a huge bonus after his parent company paid out £111 million in dividends. Weybourne, the group behind his Dyson empire of vacuum cleaners, fans and dryers, enjoyed a surge in sales and profits last year as shoppers snapped up its new hairdryer and from growing demand in the United States and Asia. It was not clear how much of the combined £111 million dividends goes to Sir James but he is expected to receive a significant amount as the controlling shareholder. The payout is modest compared with the estimated £7.- The Times (£) Sadiq urges Government to replace the EU funds under threat from Brexit London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the government to commit to replacing EU funds which could disappear when the UK leaves the bloc. Groups are currently applying for money from the £22m European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is targeted at promoting small businesses and environmental initiatives. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan presses Hammond for more police funding However, the mayor’s office is concerned that this funding is under threat, and that the £22m will be the last payment made available to the capital. – City A.M. EU Brexit negotiator attacks Boris Johnson’s ‘old-fashioned’ views on identity The European parliament’s Brexit negotiator has launched a scathing attack on Boris Johnson, saying his recent criticism of young voters who feel allegiance to Europe was “old-fashioned” and “nonsense”. Guy Verhofstadt told a special meeting of three committees in the Irish parliament that it was perfectly possible to feel European while at the same time feeling allegiance to your country of birth. – Guardian Sir Teddy Taylor, Eurosceptic Scottish Tory MP – obituary Sir Teddy Taylor, the former Eurosceptic Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East who has died aged 80, was a political one-off, a man whose quirky honesty and zest for controversy endeared him to his constituents as much as it irritated the party hierarchy. Taylor exemplified the old Scottish Unionist tradition which, at one time, proved capable of winning a majority of votes and seats north of the Border on the basis of significant working-class support. – Telegraph (£) >Yesterday on BrexitCentral: A tribute to Sir Teddy Taylor Leopold Traugott: What to expect from German elections Merkel will face a tough challenge come Sunday’s results. Contrary to past elections, there is no “Wunschkoalition” (ideal coalition) on offer this time, a problem that is to a certain extent self-inflicted and stems from her continuing political success over the last twelve years. The CDU’s traditional centre-right ally, the FDP, failed to re-enter the Bundestag after its last stint as junior coalition partner to the CDU – mainly because it was not able to push through its own campaign promises against the dominant Christian Democrats. They are extremely wary of committing the same mistake again.- Leopold Traugott for OpenEurope Will the result of the German election be a success for the EU? – Joshua Livestro for City A.M. As May speaks in Florence, I’m here in Berlin – watching Merkel preparing her own return to office – Iain Dale for ConservativeHome Merkel’s Marathon – The Times editorial (£) Paul Goodman: If the Government isn’t ready on Day One after Brexit it could collapse altogether There is action that the Government must take whether there is such an agreement or not. And others are now exploring some of the questions that Elphicke raised. Over at Newsnight, Chris Cook asks whether there will be sufficient space in ports, enough customs officers and computer systems that work – and on time. And at the Daily Telegraph, Allister Heath argues that DEXU isn’t up to the job of overseeing the necessary preparations, and that Theresa May should move the whole operation to Downing Street, and take personal charge of it herself – abandoning much of the rest of government. – Paul Goodman for ConservativeHome How to get Ready on Day One for Brexit – deal or no deal – Charlie Elphicke for ConservativeHome Christian May: EU businesses are starting to speak up on the Brexit deal There are some key voices in the Brexit debate that don’t get much of a look-in as we obsess over Boris Johnson’s manoeuvres and the minutiae of the government’s thinking. I’m referring to the voices of European businesses – and not just the car giants but the small exporters and manufacturers who depend upon easy access to the UK market as much as our own firms rely on access to the EU. We’re often as guilty of this omission as much as any other media outlet, prioritising domestic concerns which already compete for space and coverage. – Christian May for City A.M. Tom Harris: So this is Labour’s Brexit policy: siding with a foreign government against Britain It’s all going badly wrong, says Sir Keir Starmer. And to give him credit, he managed to contain his eager grin as he said it. The EU aren’t impressed by Theresa May, the Labour knight reported on his return from Brussels. They’re prepared also not to be impressed by the Prime Minister’s speech in Florence on Friday, even though neither they, Sir Keir nor any of the rest of us know what she’s going to say. Nevertheless, the press release with the headline “EU unimpressed by May’s speech” stands ready for issue, just as soon as the Prime Minister resumes her seat. – Tom Harris for the Telegraph (£) Jeremy Warner: Merkel’s re-election won’t make her any more accommodating on Brexit A female leader seemingly at one with the mood of the country whose commanding lead in the polls makes her a shoo-in for election victory – what could possibly go wrong? Only in this case, there really is no doubt about the outcome. Angela Merkel’s re-election as German Chancellor this Sunday is as certain as tomorrow’s sunrise. Assuming she goes the full term, it will make her the longest serving German Chancellor, along with Helmut Kohl, since Otto von Bismarck, Germany’s founding father. Historical parallels are always dangerous territory, but Merkel might think the association with Bismarck not entirely inappropriate. – Jeremy Warner for the Telegraph (£) Kai Weiss: The strange case of Guy Verhofstadt, free-market federalist Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the European Union speech last week attracted plenty of criticism. Mostly from those accusing him of not learning anything from Brexit, and just continuing towards the goal of an ever closer union. As Nigel Farage said afterwards: “The message is very clear: Brexit has happened, full steam ahead.” Syed Kamall, a Tory MEP, complained that “the EU needs to create more opportunities, not more regulations and more agencies”. Polish MEP Ryszard Legutko was incensed incensed by the Commissioner’s proposals: “More of the same old, same old more Europe, more Europe. – Kai Weiss for CapX Brexit in brief Can sensible people unite and ignore the Brexit headbangers on both sides? – Iain Martin for Reaction We can’t afford to let vested interests wreck Brexit – John Longworth for CapX Civil servants are the biggest threat to Brexit – John Longworth for ConservativeHome Shares in Kier Group rise as the firm continues to shrug off Brexit – City A.M.