Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team Fishermen in nationwide protest against Brexit transition Fishermen are to stage a mass protest with EU flags and a fishing boat set ablaze in opposition to the Government’s transition deal with the EU. The UK agreed a deal with Brussels last month which keeps Britain in the Common Fisheries Policy, a concession attacked by numerous Tory MPs and fishermen. But on Sunday members of the fishing community and MPs will take part in a nationwide protest with 200 boats sailing around 6 UK ports. In Hastings fishermen will burn EU flags and in Whitstable a 30-foot fishing boat draped in EU flags will be placed onto a bonfire with a crane before being torched. – BrexitCentral Fishermen protest in fury over EU Brexit transition deal – Express Brexit talks focus on Ireland… After just over a year of Brexit negotiations, the Irish border remains the biggest sticking point. Britain cannot guarantee an open border with the Republic, as it has promised, if it insists on leaving the EU’s single market and customs union, almost all experts say. A visible border could undo years of progress toward peace, but an open border when different rules apply on either side of it is unthinkable too. As negotiators meet in Brussels today, EU officials are adamant Theresa May’s government will have to move on Ireland if there is to be a deal that avoids Britain crashing out of the European Union in March next year. – Politico David Trimble: Ireland risks provoking paramilitaries over post-Brexit border – Guardian Hard border will provoke ‘an eruption of civil disobedience’ – The Times (£) Irish shipping plans to bypass British ports after Brexit – Telegraph (£) …as government steps up preparation for no deal… The government is significantly ramping up its contingency planning for a hard Brexit, new documents obtained by The Times reveal. Government departments have submitted almost 300 documents containing detailed worst case scenario plans across all areas. The move comes as senior officials grow concerned at the lack of progress in behind-the-scenes Brexit talks in Brussels. The British negotiating team have yet to unveil any workable new solutions for the border, which has brought deadlock to the talks… A so-called disorderly Brexit would see the re-emergence of a hard border. With the talks between EU and UK negotiators poised to enter their third week without a breakthrough, the government is scaling up its plans for a no-deal scenario. – The Times (£) … but Spain hopeful of Gibraltar deal with the UK by summer Spain hopes to reach an agreement with the UK over Gibraltar by the summer, its foreign minister has said. Alfonso Dastis said Spain would “defend our position” but the two sides were “working towards” an agreement as soon as possible. The UK says “informal” talks are going on about Gibraltar’s post-Brexit future with Spain. Spain has a long-standing territorial claim on Gibraltar, a UK overseas territory on the Iberian Peninsula. Mr Dastis has previously said that sovereignty would not be an issue in Brexit negotiations. Instead Madrid wants joint management of Gibraltar’s airport and more co-operation on tax fraud and border controls. Asked if he was hopeful agreement could be reached before October – when the UK and EU hope to reach a Brexit deal that can then be ratified by EU states – Mr Dastis told the BBC: “We are definitely determined to defend our position so I don’t exclude anything. – BBC News Gibraltar keeps calm but is ready to play hardball – Guardian Britain Reassures Gibraltar on Gambling Licensing After Brexit – Jackpot Britain opens first naval overseas base in 50 years in sign of ‘global reach’ Britain’s ability to maintain a global military presence post-Brexit has been greatly enhanced by the opening of the Royal Navy’s new permanent base in the Gulf, according to one of Britain’s most senior officers. And, at a time when Iran is continuing to pose a serious threat to the security of the oil-rich Gulf region, the Navy’s new HMS Juffair base at the Bahraini port of Mina Salman will enable Britain to play its part in keeping the region’s vital sea-lanes open. – Telegraph (£) Polish conservative leader backs Orbán Jarosław Kaczyński, Poland’s de facto leader, threw his weight on Friday behind Viktor Orbán, a fellow critic of deeper EU integration, on a visit to Hungary just ahead of its general election. Kaczyński said Prime Minister Orbán, whose Fidesz party is predicted to retain its parliamentary majority in Sunday’s vote, will help point the bloc “in the right direction.” The EU’s strength must be based “on the strength of national states and their voluntary cooperation,” he said. “Our friendship paves a way for our nations to be independent and free to decide about our fate and internal affairs,” Polish outlet Onet quoted the conservative leader as saying. “This is not a pathway against Europe, this is pointing Europe in the right direction.” – Politico India to demand easier migration to the UK for Brexit free trade deal India has said it will demand easier access for its citizens to migrate to Britain as part of a post-Brexit free trade deal. The country’s high commissioner to the UK Yashvardhan Sinha said India wants the “best deal possible” with Britain. But he said it’s in no hurry to strike a free trade deal. And warning Britain that a free trade deal would have to involve opening our borders to Indian migrants, Mr Sinha told Politico: “It is very important that if we need to step up our engagement we need to have that easier access, the ease of travel has to be looked into.” He added: “I don’t think India is in a rush. I think India would like certainly, and I’m sure the UK would too to get the best deal possible.” – The Sun India wants trade deal but says it won’t be done overnight – Politico Lord Steel: SNP right to demand more EU powers The SNP is right to demand that EU powers affecting Scotland must be returned to Holyrood, Lord Steel of Aikwood, the former Liberal Party leader, has said. Accusing UK ministers of failing to understand the devolution settlement, Lord Steel said the SNP was “absolutely justified” to insist that control over areas such as agriculture and fisheries should come back to Scotland as part of the Brexit negotiations. “I’ve supported the SNP and I’ve been in cahoots with them on that,” Lord Steel, who has recently turned 80, told The Times. “They’re pushing at a good case against what they call the power grab. – The Times (£) Adrian Hill: Switzerland. A Borderline Case Switzerland constantly modernises its systems for clearing consignments. These are now completely electronic and these days the customs are recruiting IT people and accountants. They are urged to regard themselves as a helpful service to business and industry. Less than one per cent of road freight is controlled and such controls are carried out well away from the border. Random controls are sometimes carried out at small border crossings but the vast majority are at the usual place of delivery. Large to medium sized companies have a system where they can file electronic clearance forms for the whole month. There is no system for small traders because they are rarely checked and then only randomly. Adrian Hill for Briefings for Brexit Matthew Parris: The Tory ‘lurch to the right’ is an illusion Brexit has put many of us into such a lather that we’ve started seeing everything through its dismal prism. And I don’t regret the obsessive interest we Remainers are taking in this great question of our time. For the party and the country Brexit has been a huge mistake, and I’m not conceding. I still argue that we can reverse the decision. But there remains no majority for this, and unless it comes I’ve doubts about imposing a second referendum. Most people think as our former-Remainer prime minister does: that we should just get on and make what we can of it. My guess is that this will happen, and Brexit will hurt us deeply, but fall short of catastrophe. – Matthew Parris for the Times (£) Comment in Brief We need a Brexit that is open for business. Letting Melrose take over GKN would be a sign we’ll get one. – Nick Faith for ConservativeHome Shedding light on the Five Star Movement’s stance towards the EU – Enea Desideri for OpenEurope Europe’s response to Russia highlight’s Britain’s continued influence – Syed Kamall MEP for ConservativeHome Britain sees the Commonwealth as its trading empire. It is sadly deluded – Ian Jack for the Guardian Brexit mustn’t halt financial co-operation on global rules – Donald Brydon for the Evening Standard News in Brief Labour must call for fresh Brexit referendum says David Miliband – Express FTSE 100 closes lower as global markets struggle with trade war fears – City A.M. Netherlands MP warns they will end EU plot to punish Britain – Express US lays out Brexit trade deal ‘wish list’ of regulations to scrap – Independent Ukip provides 75% fewer candidates for councils – The Times (£)