Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team Jeremy Corbyn rejects Norway-style Brexit as he attempts to confirm Labour’s Brexit stance… Mr Corbyn said Labour “wanted to remain and reform but that ship has sailed” as he attempted to outline the party’s view on Brexit. The Labour leader told BBC’s Andrew Marr the UK must “have influence over the regulations” and develop a “form of customs union”. But he said the party did not want to remain in the customs union, which would require full membership of the EU. But Mr Corbyn ruled out a Norway style model for Brexit. He said: “Norway accepts all the rules of the single market, doesn’t have any ability to influence them whatsoever and is a rather different economy to ours because it is heavily dependent on mainly oil. We are not.” Norway is not a member of the European Union but it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA). – Express Labour Brexit splits trigger bitter exchange between high-profile MPs – PoliticsHome > On BrexitCentral: Jeremy Corbyn on the single market, customs union and a second referendum …and says ‘the Remain ship has sailed’ as he rules out second EU referendum Jeremy Corbyn said “the Remain ship has sailed” as he was questioned over Labour’s Brexit policy amid fresh calls for a second EU referendum. The Labour leader ruled out a second referendum on Brexit as he was interviewed on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday morning. When asked if he and shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer agreed on the party’s policy for leaving the EU, Mr Corbyn said: “The referendum gave us the result, it did, we [the Labour Party] wanted to remain and reform but that ship has sailed. – Evening Standard Brexiteers unite to discredit Hammond Brexiteers have begun a co-ordinated attempt to discredit Philip Hammond and senior officials days before cabinet ministers see the first economic analysis of different options for exiting the European Union. Key members of the cabinet will be shown the government impact assessments in one-to-one meetings with officials this week, before a cabinet sub-committee discussion expected the following Wednesday. The analysis, drawn up using contributions from across Whitehall, is likely to cause a dispute since cabinet ministers expect it to show that hard Brexit options will stall the economy for years to come. “The impact analysis will put the cat among the pigeons, assuming you believe in experts,” one government source said. – Times (£) May told to clarify Brexit stance or face no-confidence vote… Theresa May is under growing pressure from both wings of her own party to offer more clarity in public about what Brexit deal Britain wants, or face the mounting risk of a no-confidence vote. Downing Street sources have confirmed that rather than setting out a fresh vision of Brexit in the spring, as some colleagues had hoped, May will make a more limited speech focusing on security cooperation at a conference in Munich next month. With pro-Brexit MPs in open revolt, senior Conservatives are warning that unless the prime minister exerts firmer leadership over the issue she could be deposed. – Guardian The Government needs to settle its Brexit position once and for all, to end this instability – Telegraph (£) Theresa May is told to clarify her stance on Brexit or face mounting risk of no-confidence vote as Tory MPs say ‘she’s as vulnerable as she’s ever been’ and has ‘got to make a decision’ – Daily Mail No more EU compromises, PM is told: Showdown after Tories urge Theresa May to be ‘more like a lion than a tortoise’ – Daily Mail > On BrexitCentral’s YouTube: Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks to Peston on the Brexit transition period, Philip Hammond and Theresa May > On BrexitCentral’s YouTube: Pro-Brexit Former Cabinet Minister Theresa Villiers on her Brexit concerns > On BrexitCentral’s YouTube: Brexit Minister Lord Callanan on ‘Brexit backsliding’ …as David Lidington calls for ‘spirit of mutual respect’ amidst Tory infighting over Brexit… A senior Tory has urged his party to “come together in a spirit of mutual respect” amid infighting over Brexit. Cabinet Office minister David Lidington’s intervention came as Downing Street was hit by a series of public spats between senior Tory figures in recent days. Amid fresh rumours of a challenge to Theresa May’s leadership, Mr Lidington told the BBC: “The Conservative family – left, right and centre, because we’re a broad church – needs to come together in a spirit of mutual respect, there are differences in any broad church, and look at what the bigger picture is showing. – Evening Standard > On BrexitCentral’s YouTube: Andrew Marr asks David Lidington if we will diverge from the EU post-Brexit …and Brexiteers who accused MPs of ‘selling out’ over £39bn EU bill are branded ‘swivel-eyed’ old men by senior minister Brexiteers who accused the Government and MPs of “selling out” over the EU divorce bill have been branded “swivel-eyed” by a senior minister who claimed they are mostly “elderly retired men” without mortgages or young children. The Telegraph has obtained a WhatsApp mobile phone message sent by Claire Perry, the energy minister who attends Cabinet, in which she berates those accusing MPs of being “traitors” using pejorative language. It reveals the increasing acrimony over Brexit at the most senior levels of the Conservative Party, amid growing calls for Theresa May to intervene and show more leadership. – Telegraph (£) Donald Trump promises ‘great’ UK trade deal after Brexit… Donald Trump says the US will make a lucrative new transatlantic trade deal once the UK is free of the restrictions of the European Union, as he talked up his British heritage in an exclusive interview for ITV with Piers Morgan. “We are going to make a deal with UK that’ll be great. As you know you’re are somewhat restricted because of Brexit, but when that restriction is up we’re going to be your great trading partner,” he said. – Telegraph ….but says May is too soft on Europe President Trump has said that he would have negotiated Brexit with a “tougher” attitude than Theresa May. He said that the European Union had “not cracked up to what it’s supposed to be” and claimed he was unsurprised by the result of the referendum because Britons “don’t want people coming from all over the world into Britain”. Brexit supporters may use his comments to urge the prime minister to take a harder stance in talks but that would leave them open to attack by Remainers for sharing views with the controversial president. – Times (£) > On BrexitCentral’s YouTube: Piers Morgan on Trump’s views on the EU Brussels to say EU laws must apply to Britain during transitional period… Britain is seeking powers to vet new EU laws agreed by the rest of the bloc during the transition period after Brexit day, in a demand that risks setting the UK on a collision course with Brussels. Senior UK and European officials fear that the battle over whether Britain should automatically accept all the rules set by the EU after Brexit could delay any transition deal. Both sides had hoped that the talks would be easier than the fraught arguments over Britain’s exit bill and the Northern Irish border but a growing backlash among pro-Brexit Conservatives could set back discussions. – FT (£) …as Ireland’s Simon Coveney prepares to outline demands for next stage in Brexit talks… The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator will be given a mandate today to begin talks with the UK on its transition out of the bloc. Michel Barnier will take part in a “critical” meeting of the EU’s General Affairs Council in Brussels. After that meeting, Simon Coveney will travel to London to outline Ireland’s position. At Chatham House on Wednesday Mr Coveney, the foreign affairs minister and tánaiste, is expected to set out his vision for the future relationship between Ireland and the UK and repeat Ireland’s demands that any promises that have been made by the British so far are binding. Fianna Fáil has called on Mr Coveney to ensure that the agreement made in December last month, which ensures that there will be no “hard” border with the North, is “respected in full”. – Times (£) …while the EU is reportedly expecting Britain to ask for secret longer transition European Union negotiators expect Britain to seek an extended exit transition period and suggest that the request will remain secret to avoid a rebellion by Eurosceptic cabinet ministers and backbench MPs. Britain will leave the EU at midnight on March 29 next year but is preparing to agree by this March the terms of a transition to help to limit the disruption for business. An extension beyond the envisaged period of 21 months is controversial because it will mean Britain paying billions more into EU budgets while remaining bound by European law, and judges, without any say in decisions. – Times (£) City banks downsizing – and it has little to do with Brexit outcome RBS, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank are among the banking giants tightening their belts in London by ditching expensive properties and consolidating into smaller offices. Finance companies are already planning to vacate 4.5m sq ft of office space in the capital over the next three to four years, one property consultancy familiar with the plans of top City firms told The Daily Telegraph. The cuts are “baked in” regardless of the outcome of Brexit trade talks, the consultancy said. The main reason banks are downsizing is to save costs in an era of lower profitability. Moves planned include cutting headcount due to rolling out digital automation, relocating operations to the UK regions or outsourcing back office functions overseas. – Telegraph City wants protection for its soaring EU workforce – Times (£) Finance sector remains mired in gloom, but for some, clouds are lifting – Times (£) Labour lords will not wreck Brexit bill, says shadow Brexit minister Labour has pledged that it will not block or wreck the EU withdrawal bill which begins its passage through the House of Lords tomorrow. Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, the party’s shadow Brexit minister, issued a statement in which she said that Labour peers would make changes to the legislation because it was “not fit for purpose” at present. However, she said that she expected the opening debate “to deal with some of the nonsense out there that the Lords will block or wreck the legislation”. – Times (£) EU (Withdrawal) Bill fundamentally flawed, say peers – BBC News Lords warn Brexit will threaten the UK’s energy security – City A.M. The peers trying to slam the brakes on Brexit: Andrew Pierce profiles the members of House of Lords constitution committee – Daily Mail > On BrexitCentral’s YouTube: BrexitCentral’s Jonathan Isaby on the Sky News paper review > On BrexitCentral’s YouTube: Baroness Evans on the EU Withdrawal Bill debate in the House of Lords > On BrexitCentral: Brendan Chilton: The House of Lords has no right to stop the EU Withdrawal Bill The Spectator: Britain must embrace all Brexit’s freedoms There is little point in leaving the EU, with all the upheaval that entails, if we are not prepared to forge a more open country and take advantage of the freedom we will gain — freedom from the EU’s protectionist instincts on trade with the outside world and freedom from the suffocating, vested-interest nature of EU rule-making. As Michael Gove has said, we are in danger of creating a VHS economy. We need flexibility with the ability to diverge. – Spectator editorial Juliet Samuel: As Downing Street dithers, Britain is squandering its opportunity to shape Brexit in its favour If in doubt, blame the civil servants. That seems to be the strategy adopted by disgruntled backbenchers and ministers who aren’t happy with our rudderless Government. But ask anyone who has to deal with the Government from the outside, from foreign diplomats to businesses, and the civil servants are the only ones singled out for praise. A bad workman blames his tools and a poor political class blames its bureaucrats. MPs do have much to be unhappy about. The UK is squandering its best opportunity to shape European attitudes in our favour. Even as EU governments are at their most open to influence, Downing Street is dithering. – Juliet Samuel for the Telegraph (£) Nicky Morgan: Perhaps the Prime Minister should have gone. But she didn’t. The Cabinet must now take a lead. There were times last year for the Prime Minister to step aside – immediately after the June 2017 election, or after Party Conference. That didn’t happen. Maybe the Cabinet should have asked her to go, but they didn’t. Saturday saw masses of Conservative activists out on doorsteps and campaigning ahead of the May elections under the banner of ‘Tory canvass’. They don’t deserve this drip, drip of bad news about splits in our Party. Even more importantly, we are now into a critical nine months for the future of the country, so the Cabinet need to get a grip by acting collectively to shape Brexit and agree an ideal end-state based in reality, on what Parliament will approve eventually – and then stick to it. They also need to demonstrate immense Conservative care and competence in the running of their departments. The country and party activists deserve no less. – Nicky Morgan MP for ConservativeHome Trevor Kavanagh: Pensioner-Marxist Jeremy Corbyn will KO Theresa May unless we get Brexit Mrs May, a Remainer, won’t even say if she would back Brexit today. In a chilling message Rees-Mogg told an interviewer: “The Leader is important but Brexit is more important than anyone other than the Queen. Mrs May has repeatedly refused to say whether she would back the Brexit she is delivering. If you are in favour of something and that is your policy, it’s helpful to say so. Otherwise why are you implementing it?” He won silent cheers among Tory MPs with a blast at “Spreadsheet Phil’s” call for modest changes. – Trevor Kavanagh for The Sun John Redwood: The country deserves a dividend from leaving the EU There are also some EU taxes we would like to cancel but are not allowed to while we remain in. I was asked by Leave campaign groups in 2016 to set out a possible budget Government could adopt once we are out. No one then considered making additional payments to leave the EU, and many of us today think there is no need to pay anything beyond our contributions up to our date of departure. The sooner we have control of our money for our purposes, the better. There is no need to pay for talks, nor pay to trade, especially when we are the ones with the large trade deficit! There was endless debate in the referendum about how much we would save. The Remain campaign objected strongly to the use of the gross figure of £350million a week and reminded everyone that it is the net figure that we can actually spend on new priorities. – John Redwood MP for the Express Lewis Goodall: Theresa May may lose lifeline with ‘middle way’ Brexit The second president of the United States John Adams once said: “In politics, the middle way is no way at all”. Mr Adams knew a thing or two about revolutions and knew that, in their midst, you have to pick a side. With Brexit, we’ve had our own revolt and it is the middle way which is leading Theresa May inexorably to the most perilous moment of her premiership. I was initially sceptical that such a threat existed. I still think the most likely outcome is that Mrs May survives and limps on. But, having talked to several Conservative MPs on both wings of the party today, I believe that there is an increasing possibility she will face a challenge. Part of the reason for that are Mrs May’s own missteps. – Lewis Goodall for Sky News JP Floru: Let’s be Singapore – and prosperous, post-Brexit, beyond our wildest dreams Let’s be Singapore. An economic opportunity like Brexit will not come again in our lifetimes. If we play our cards right, the UK could become prosperous beyond our wildest imagination. With the Industrial Revolution, Albion created the greatest economic advance the world has ever seen. We can do it again. And we know how to do it, since it has been tried in Hong Kong and Singapore, where it was phenomenally successful. Emulating the ‘Singapore Model’ has come up in debates before. Astonishingly, some think this a bad idea. When British troops withdrew from Singapore in 1971, it looked as if the country would perish. But Lee Kuan Yew introduced free market reforms to produce the wealth to pay for an army to preserve its independence. Many policies were copied from our own Hong Kong. From poverty and predictions of imminent collapse, Singapore rose to gain the fourth highest GDP per capita in the world. – JP Floru for ConservativeHome Roger Bootle: The Government must raise its sights, not kow-tow to big business As the weeks roll by, the evidence is piling up that the UK economy is doing really rather well. Last week’s published economic statistics included a rise of 102,000 in employment in three months, record VAT receipts and growth of GDP in Q4 of 0.5pc, slightly faster than in the previous quarter and above expectations. Last week Lord O’Neill, a former Treasury Minister and prominent Remainer, admitted that the economy has done a lot better than expected. Nevertheless, he suggested that it had been bolstered by the dynamic performance of the North-West, doubtless helped by the “Northern Powerhouse” project, driven by the former Chancellor, George Osborne, aided and abetted by none other than one Lord O’Neill – and, perhaps more importantly, by the strength of the world economy. – Roger Bootle for the Telegraph (£) Brexit in brief The UK-China ‘Golden Era’ can bear new fruit – Liu Xiaoming for the Telegraph (£) Embracing the free port opportunity – Chris Lloyd for the Northern Echo No Brexit trade deal is complete without an immigration policy to keep EU talent – Catherine McGuiness for City A.M. Brexit could be ‘opportunity’ for orchestras to escape EU red tape and re-engage with the world – Telegraph (£) From gobbledygook to Latin: how new EU rules make it harder for investors to understand charges – Telegraph Bank of England’s Mark Carney faces grilling from Lords committee over economic forecasts and Brexit – City A.M. Lord Adonis: Brexit like Spanish inquisition and Japan capturing Singapore – Guido Fawkes Business leaders don’t think the government will be able to bring home the ‘best’ Brexit deal, says a new survey – City A.M.