Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team EU agrees to visa-free travel for UK citizens after no-deal Brexit… EU ambassadors agreed to allow UK citizens visa-free travel to the continent – even after a no-deal Brexit. Britons travelling to the bloc’s borderless Schengen area – made up of 26 European countries – after 29 March should be granted visa-free travel for a short stay, the European Council proposed. – Sky News EU capitals agree to visa-free Schengen access for Brits – Politico …but angers UK by describing Gibraltar as a ‘British colony’ The UK has objected to Gibraltar being described as a “colony” in European Union legislation allowing UK nationals to travel to the EU after Brexit. The EU proposed allowing visa-free travel for Britons in November. The Spanish government has since insisted a footnote be added describing Gibraltar as a “colony” and referring to “controversy” over its status. The UK’s ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, objected to it at a meeting in Brussels earlier. – BBC News Article 50 extension ‘not impossible’ accepts Jacob Rees-Mogg, as two more ministers say Brexit delay may be needed… Extending Article 50 is “not impossible” if a new Brexit deal has been agreed with the EU, Jacob Rees-Mogg says today, in a major shift of stance for the highly influential Eurosceptic MP. The leader of the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers says for the first time that delaying Brexit for a “short” period would be acceptable to give Parliament the time for the necessary legislation to be passed. It came as Philip Hammond and Liam Fox became the latest Cabinet ministers to raise the prospect of a delay, in what was seen as a sign that the Government is preparing the public what many MPs regard as an inevitable postponement of Brexit. – Telegraph (£) ‘If we do get the deal, we need a little bit more time’: Chancellor Philip Hammond suggests Brexit delay – ITV News A short extension to the timetable to deliver Brexit is not impossible – Jacob Rees-Mogg for The Telegraph (£) …while Whitehall officials reportedly begin ‘serious work’ on UK staying in EU customs union as way to rescue deal Whitehall officials have begun “serious work” on the UK staying in a permanent EU customs union as a route to rescuing the Brexit deal, despite Theresa May ruling out the move, The Independent can reveal. Preparations are underway at a high level, amid a belief the beleaguered prime minister will be forced to offer the potentially crucial compromise to Labour. Ms May has repeatedly rejected a customs union – fearing a further revolt by anti-EU Tories – but some cabinet ministers are pushing her to accept that the red line will have to be dropped if her deal is to be rescued. They believe it could tempt scores of Labour MPs to back the deal when it returns to the Commons, even if Jeremy Corbyn himself still refuses to drop his opposition. Now a well-placed Whitehall source has told The Independent: “There is serious work going on about a customs union. We need to be prepared, so we are ready if the politics moves in that direction.” – Independent More than 40 Labour MPs are prepared to revolt and back Brexit in a huge boost for Theresa May – The Sun Low-grade Labour nobodies bloated with self-importance still say they know better than 17m Brexit voters – The Sun editorial Weak EU economies will push for Brexit deal, asserts Liam Fox International trade secretary Liam Fox has suggested “weakness” in some of the EU’s largest members’ economies will push Brussels to renegotiate the Brexit deal with the UK as “quickly as possible”. Prime minister Theresa May is set to return to Brussels for negotiations with the EU as early as next week after securing parliamentary support for revising the Brexit deal that would change the measures designed to prevent a hard border on Ireland. – FT (£) Fox warns MPs that voters may turn against them if they block the Withdrawal Agreement – Conservative Home “A nation is a human thing. Influence is, at least in part, a reflection of our own self confidence.” Fox’s speech to Policy Exchange – full text – Conservative Home UK plans new product safety mark for ‘no deal’ scenario The government has drawn up plans to replace the CE safety symbol on products in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the BBC has learned. Household items such as kettles, light bulbs and toys are stamped with the letters CE. The mark belongs to the European Union, so if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, goods will have to be stamped with a new symbol – UKCA. Some manufacturers are concerned that such a change will be costly. Since 1993, the CE mark has shown consumers that an item meets EU legal requirements and has been tested. The new logo drawn up by the UK government stands for UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA). – BBC News Bercow insists he will “help the House decide” which way Brexit goes John Bercow has given a brazen interview to CNN unapologetically defending his support for “minority, dissident voices” fighting Brexit and his right to “help the House decide” which way the Brexit process goes, before declaring without a hint of irony that “sometimes the Speaker’s role is just to stand up for the institution of the House of Commons and the principle of Parliamentary democracy”. Overruling the clerks to force an amendment through for political reasons against the rules is a strange way of standing up for that institution. – Guido Fawkes Speaker defends Brexit impartiality – but admits ‘concern’ – Sky News Spanish growers claim their tomatoes could cost more ‘within a week of Brexit’ The cost of cherry tomatoes could increase by more than 10% if there is a no deal Brexit, say growers in southern Spain. Earlier this week, I visited a vast site near Alicante, where 60 million kilograms of cherry tomatoes are grown, picked and shipped every year and a third of them are bound for the UK. But growers are worried that a no deal Brexit is going to push up the price we pay for them in the shops. Jorge Brotons is the commercial director for Bonnysa and deals with all the big UK supermarkets. The business has been growing tomatoes for the UK since 1956. – BBC News Mafia made €3bn from swindling EU funds intended for national park in Sicily The mafia has earned €3 billion (£2.6 billion) over the last decade siphoning off EU funds intended for a national park in Sicily, according to a former director of the protected area who survived an assassination attempt by the mob. Giuseppe Antoci narrowly escaped with his life in 2016 when assailants ambushed his car at night, placing rocks across an isolated, winding road. Two or three men opened fire but were fought off and forced to flee by the quick reactions of the director’s police escort. – Telegraph (£) Finnish PM says Brexit is taking EU attention away from important issues Finland is frustrated with Brexit — and wants to get it out of the way quickly. “Brexit has taken too much time from our decision-making process,” Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipilä told Politico in an interview, pointing to challenges like growth, security, and migration. “I hope that this issue will be off our table as soon as possible,” he said. Asked how frustrated he feels about Brexit on a scale from 1 to 10, the prime minister answered “12. – Politico Remainers tell Germans: ‘We’re still friends’ A group of British political figures and former England footballer Gary Lineker have written an open letter to Germany, saying British people would remain their “friends” after Brexit and would still be an “outward-looking nation.” The letter, published in Die Welt Friday, was in response to a similar missive penned by German MPs and business leaders earlier this month lamenting Britain’s decision to leave the EU. – Politico Remainers claim UK might only enjoy benefits of new EU-Japan trade deal for 57 days Top Remain figures have bemoaned how the UK might only be able to enjoy the benefits of the EU’s new trade agreement with Japan for 57 days. The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) comes into force today – just eight weeks before the UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March. Under the terms of Britain’s withdrawal agreement with the EU, the UK will still participate in the bloc’s 40 free trade agreements during a 21-month transition period. However, if the UK leaves the EU without a divorce agreement – known as a no-deal Brexit – it will no longer be part of those trade deals. – Sky News Manufacturers stockpiling at record pace “An equivalent survey of eurozone manufacturers also found the sector struggling in the 19-nation bloc. “There were also signs that inventories of finished goods were being bolstered to ensure warehouses are well stocked to meet ongoing contractual obligations. “Stocks of inputs increased at the sharpest pace in the 27-year history, as buying activity was stepped up to mitigate against potential supply-chain disruptions in coming months. Orders for British malting barley, for example, from the rest of the EU has dried up, as that crop could attract particularly steep charges. “With neither of these headwinds likely to abate in the near-term, there is a clear risk of manufacturing sliding into recession.”- BBC News Brexit backstop: Can technology solve the Irish border problem? The European Research Group (ERG), which is made up of pro-Brexit Conservatives, has outlined a “unique solution” involving a mix of technology and a simplifying of custom procedures in its report A Better Deal. “No checks at the border” would be needed, Hans Maessen, one of report authors, told BBC News. He said checks could be carried out at warehouses instead: “You make a declaration and customs can say, ‘Hold up, I’ll come by with my car and inspect your goods,'” Mr Maessen said. This system could be developed using existing IT systems and no physical infrastructure would be required, he added. But the EU requires physical inspections on certain goods at the point where they enter the single market. This applies to some animal products and food products.And the ERG’s report appears to acknowledge this. “Inspections on veterinary and SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) regulations shall be done at the premises of the exporter, importer, or at official border inspection facilities, located in the vicinity of the point of entry into the territory of the other party,” it says. – BBC News EU gives airlines deadline for no-deal Brexit Brussels is to give airline groups such as IAG, owner of British Airways and Iberia, a seven-month deadline to overhaul their shareholder make-up in order to retain full flying rights within the EU if Britain crashes out of the bloc without a deal next month. The tight adjustment period for airlines, which must show they are majority owned and controlled by EU nationals in order to have full rights to fly through the continent, is outlined in revisions to a draft law seen by the Financial Times. – FT (£) Jacob Rees-Mogg: A short extension to the timetable to deliver Brexit is not impossible Attempts to postpone the date of departure from the European Union beyond March 29 are little more than ploys to keep the United Kingdom as a member state in spite of the referendum and subsequent Acts of Parliament. The motion proposed earlier this week by Yvette Cooper, whose constituency voted 69.3 per cent to leave, was backed by those who campaigned to remain and always disliked the result. – Jacob Rees-Mogg MP for the Telegraph (£) James Forsyth: Theresa May won’t get much out of Brussels until Valentine’s Day Brexit votes Theresa May is not going to get much out of Brussels until after Valentine’s Day. There are two reasons for this. First, EU leaders are fed up with her. She signed off on a deal with them, assured them it could get through the Commons then lost by a record margin. They are now sceptical when the British indicate that this or that change could get the deal through Parliament. Despite the passing of the Brady amendment — saying the Commons would ratify the withdrawal agreement if the so-called backstop was replaced by alternative arrangements to prevent a hard border — the EU remains doubtful as to whether this is really the case. No 10 acknowledges that things are not easy between Mrs May and EU leaders at the moment. One member of her circle tells me they are “waiting for the anger to subside” before they head to Brussels. A well-placed European source tells me there will be “nothing tangible in two weeks”. Theresa May’s attempts to deal with the EU will get a frosty reception. – James Forsyth for The Sun Charles Moore: There is an inner reason why Theresa May still shies away from a full Brexit No sooner had Mrs May agreed to their demands than she started edging away from them. Demand number Five of the Six, for example, was that she should supplement her negotiating team with people who actually know about trade negotiations – Crawford Falconer, the New Zealander who is Britain’s Chief Trade Negotiation Adviser, and Julian Braithwaite, our Ambassador to the WTO, under whose rules we shall operate if we leave with no deal. So far, both men’s wisdom has been neglected by Mrs May’s Government. Despite her promise, she seems determined it should stay that way. Her latest Brussels team consists of her, her deputy David Lidington, the Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox, Olly Robbins, the civil servant who constructed the present shambles, and the Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay. – Charles Moore for the Telegraph (£) John Redwood: Another round of Project fear It is strange to read stories coming from people in or close to the government telling us leaving without a deal will be bad, saying the government has not done all it needs to do to leave on March 29, and playing up any bad economic or business news that comes along. Normally governments are guilty of putting too optimistic a spin on events. Not this one, who often seem to prefer the EU spin line against us. Most of it is Project Fear re heated. It was that very Project Fear replete with precise and wildly wrong forecasts for jobs, house prices, growth and business for 2016-17 that did much to lose the vote for Remain. – John Redwood’s Diary Julian Jessop: The UK economy is proving the Brexit doomsayers wrong For some people, the only thing worse than a crisis is the absence of one. Many Whitehall observers – including Chris Giles in the Financial Times – have bemoaned the lack of a severe economic downturn, or at least a run on the pound, which might bring politicians face-to-face with the “harsh realities” of Brexit.It barely needs to be said that this is a very strange position to take. Even if you agree that we should be seeking a softer Brexit or no Brexit at all – and I don’t – it is quite something to effectively wish your fellow citizens were that bit poorer.The other problem is that these commentators are looking at this the wrong way around. – Julian Jessop for the Telegraph (£) Comment in Brief The European Commission is slowly strangulating Europe – David Blake for Briefings for Brexit Why do MPs seek to betray the UK? – Frederick Forsyth for The Express Britain’s best chance of revenge for its lost Brexit is to remain in the EU – James Crisp for the Telegraph (£) They can’t blame Brexit for this Europe-wide mess – John Redwood for Conservative Woman Is it time for a Brexit recipe book? – Charles Moore for The Spectator Elites trying to delay or block Brexit are sitting on a volcano – Gerald Warner for Reaction Are the UK and the EU27 prepared for No Deal? – Henry Newman for Open Europe Ill-informed Fintan O’Toole has stoked the Irish Republican narrative of grievance – Ruth Dudley-Edwards for Reaction The ‘Meaningful Vote’ is yet another backfiring constitutional innovation – Henry Hill for ConservativeHome Gibraltar row shows danger of reopening Brexit deal – Dominic Waghorn for Sky News Can Theresa May persuade the EU to renegotiate? – The Spectator Podcast Fake Gnus: How Brexit wiped out the wildebeest – Nick Booth for Conservative Woman News in Brief Whitehall ‘won’t cope’ with no-deal, claims Government report – The Times (£) Officials warn of putrefying piles of rubbish after no-deal Brexit – Guardian Varadkar and Coveney set for crunch talks with EU leaders – The Times (£) Only a Brexiteer will make Brussels blink, insists Raab – The Times (£) Populist parties intent on destroying EU from within plotting May election takeover of Brussels – Telegraph (£) MEPs urge EU leaders to protect rights of Britons living in Europe – Guardian Leave.EU and Arron Banks’ firm fined £120,000 over data breaches – BBC News Brexit will finish off our current leaders, says Tory MP Nick Barebones Boles – Evening Standard One in four MPs expected to miss special ‘Brexit sitting’ of House of Commons to be with families – Telegraph (£) UK expects to discuss backstop options with EU soon – May’s spokesman – Reuters PM criticised for drafting in Remain minister for Brexit talks – Sky News