Brexit can be stopped, insists Tony Blair as he rules out return to frontline politics Tony Blair insisted that voters had a right to decide they want to stay in the EU after “scrutinising” Theresa May’s final deal with European leaders… In an interview with the New Statesman he revealed he feels he cannot return to frontline politics because parts of the media would “move to destroy mode”… He compared June’s referendum result to agreeing to a house swap “without having seen the other house” and insisted that Brexit could be stopped once voters are able to evaluate its “consequences”. He said: “It can be stopped if the British people decide that, having seen what it means, the pain-gain cost-benefit analysis doesn’t stack up.” – Daily Telegraph The former Labour leader may still have a contribution to make, but what is it? – Times leader (£) Tony Blair’s unfinished business – New Statesman’s interview in full Can Brexit really be stopped? – The Guardian Tony Blair is gathering the anti-Brexit forces. The government must respond – Daily Telegraph (£) editorial Like it or not, Tony Blair is giving a voice to the 48 per cent – New Statesman We need to listen to Tony Blair, now more than ever – Tom Harris for the Daily Telegraph (£) Furious Leave voters to boycott Virgin as Branson ‘funds Brexit blocking group’ – Daily Express Sir John Major: Tyranny of the majority must not set Brexit terms Britain’s departure from the European Union must not be dictated by the “tyranny of the majority”, Sir John Major has warned. The former prime minister told guests at a private dinner in Westminster that he “could not accept” that those who had voted to remain in the EU should have “no say” on the terms of Brexit. In his first intervention on the issue since the referendum result, he said that parliament, not the government, must make the final decision on any new deal with the EU. There was a “perfectly credible case” for a second referendum, he added. – The Times (£) Sir John Major says ‘perfectly credible’ case for second referendum – The Guardian Nigel Farage warns of ‘seismic shock’ if Brexit not delivered – BBC There is ‘more uncertainty than ever before’ about the OBR’s gloomy Brexit warnings, IFS says There is “more uncertainty than ever before” about the Office for Budget Responsibility’s gloomy Brexit warnings, the Institutional for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said…Paul Johnson, the head of the IFS, also said that there will be an additional “dollop” of austerity after the next General Election.”The OBR has been dealt an almost impossible hand in terms of making a forecast post 2019. It clearly matters whether we have a hard or soft Brexit. They seem to have taken a very broad brush average.” – Daily Telegraph British Ambassador to Brazil appointed to Brexit Department Alex Ellis, the current British Ambassador to Brazil, has been appointed Director General at the Department for Exiting the European Union. He will take up his new role in January 2017 following three and a half years in charge of the British Mission in Brazil. As the new Director General Alex Ellis will be responsible for the negotiation strategy and for relations with EU Member States and Institutions. – Gov.uk Brexit ‘secret diplomacy’ efforts to include secure reading rooms The government’s efforts to keep its Brexit negotiations secret are likely to include the establishment of secure reading rooms for MPs and peers to read strategy documents. The plan for reading rooms policed by a security officer is designed to ensure that documents cannot be leaked, photographed or passed to a third party. The government has come up with the idea as a way of fulfilling a commitment that it will allow UK parliamentarians the same level of access to Brexit negotiating documents as MEPs in Brussels. – The Guardian EU adopting three-tier approach to Brexit Sky News has been told that Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s top Brexit negotiator, wants to discuss “pending issues” – such as UK payments to the EU, border issues and the single market – at the same time as considering a post-Brexit transition deal. Under the EU’s plan, a “final deal” or “association agreement” for any long-term trade relationship – the third tier – would only be discussed after these first two stages have been agreed. – Sky News Fury as EU attempts to stifle Brexit negotiations – Daily Express EU leaders ‘not bluffing’ over Brexit terms EU leaders are not “bluffing” when they say the UK will be left without access to the single market when it leaves the bloc if there is no free movement of people, Malta’s prime minister says. Joseph Muscat, whose country assumes the EU’s presidency in January, told the BBC “this is really and truly our position and I don’t see it changing”. – BBC Why the tough talk of Brexit negotiators is doomed to fail – Long + Short Magazine Sir Keir Starmer MP: Hard Brexit will be catastrophic for Britain [It is] clear that the approach the government now takes to Brexit negotiations will have a profound and lasting impact on our economy, jobs and living standards for many years. That is why Labour have emphasised that the government needs to pursue a sensible, smart Brexit: one that puts the economy, jobs and living standards first and provides certainty for businesses, investors and communities. – Sir Keir Starmer MP for the Times (£) Phil Mullan: Stop blaming it on Brexit for economic sloth The future is uncertain; it always is. But one certain thing is that Britain’s productivity problems won’t fix themselves spontaneously. What is also certain is that the preoccupation with economic ‘uncertainties’ – now given the convenient handle of Brexit uncertainties – encourages paralysis. It reinforces the existing sense of helplessness in the face of genuine economic challenges. Every time a politician highlights the uncertainties facing us, it is indicative of their abdication of the task of trying to make a real difference. It signifies their fatalistic acceptance of the economic world as not being susceptible to signification redirection. – Phil Mullan for Spiked Bruno Waterfield: British politicians can no longer hide behind EU’s veil of secrecy The press release, timed to prevent any coverage on Monday, stated that in Brussels “the secretary of state paid a visit to the UK Representation to the European Union”, Britain’s embassy to the EU. Mr Davis’s officials stuck to that story but the truth was rather different. He had in fact met Michel Barnier, the EU’s lead Brexit negotiator, for talks that lasted 40 minutes on Monday morning. Mr Davis’s officials had no intention of revealing this. A couple of hours into the train journey Mr Barnier tweeted that he had met Mr Davis. The Whitehall spin doctors were aghast. – Bruno Waterfield for The Times (£) Brexit comment in brief IDS knock it off. Let’s listen to the Brexit options – not close our minds in advance Nicholas Soames MP for ConservativeHome Still in shock over Brexit? Get a grip – Christian May in City A.M. Brexiteers will trash anyone who gets in their way – Martin Kettle in The Guardian If you want the judiciary to be independent of politics, they can’t be supreme – Henry Hill for Reaction Nigel Farage no longer needs Ukip — the global Brexit revolution awaits – Asa Bennett in the Daily Telegraph (£) The future of UK trade after Brexit – Foreign Office Minister Alok Sharma MP’s speech to Asia House How to create a more resilient agricultural sector post-Brexit – Baroness Scott for PoliticsHome There is a financial services-shaped hole in the government’s economic strategy – James Frayne for City A.M. The City will remain at the vanguard of financial innovation post-Brexit – Nikhil Rathi for City A.M. With Italians set to vote no in a key political reform referendum, should we now expect “Italeave”? – Tim Worstall and Iain Anderson for City A.M. Even without winning elections, populists are setting the European Union’s agenda – The Economist’s Charlemagne Officials in Brussels are fearful the winds of change are stirring – John Redwood MP for Comment Central Brexit news in brief 57% of Scots would prefer Scotland to be outside the EU if that means it can retain free trade and open borders with England, Wales and Northern Ireland – The Herald Spain would oppose Nicola Sturgeon’s single market Brexit plan for Scotland – Daily Telegraph Michael Gove demands that Theresa May spend a £32 billion ‘Brexit dividend’ on the NHS – The Sun Marston’s toasts rising profits despite concerns over Brexit – Express and Star Post Brexit boost for Southend tourism – Braintree and Witham Times Regional property investment promises better returns than London in Brexit Britain – City A.M. And finally… Brexit voters are less likely to change their underpants every day Leading firm YouGov has surveyed 1,683 people about two vital issues: Brexit , and how often they change their underpants. It found 84% of people change their pants or knickers every day. But that figure rises to 89% for those who voted Remain – and falls to 81% for those who voted leave. – Daily Mirror