Eastern European countries vow to block any Brexit deal that hits rights of their citizens living and working in Britain The Visegrad Four (V4) – the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – want a guarantee that their nationals ‘are equal’ before agreeing to any Brexit deal. Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, said: ‘Unless we feel a guarantee that these people are equal, we will veto any agreement between the EU and Britain. V4 countries will be uncompromising. Unless we feel a guarantee that these people (living and working in Britain) are equal, we will veto any agreement between the EU and Britain. I think Britain knows this is an issue for us where there’s no room for compromise.” – Mail on Sunday No 10: Tusk’s claim Article 50 in January is an ‘interpretation’ Donald Tusk let slip, at a summit in Bratislava, that Theresa May wants to begin the formal process to extract Britain from the EU by February 2017. But Downing Street has since down-played Mr Tusk’s comments as nothing more than an “interpretation” of his meeting with Mrs May, who will not trigger Article 50 this year but “recognises the need to deliver on the public verdict without delay”. – Sky News Theresa May faces rebellion as Tory MPs launch new ‘hard Brexit’ campaign A new group, Leave Means Leave, launches today with the aim of getting the UK out of the EU’s single market, ending the influence of Brussels on British laws, and scrapping European “free movement” migration. In the group’s launch report, it argues that Britain must pull out of the EU’s single market, even if no alternative trade deal has been struck with Brussels. – Sunday Telegraph SNP warned against ‘doom-mongering’ over Brexit vote to try to get second independence referendum “Doom-mongering warnings of a ‘lost decade’ and ‘deep and severe’ damage are becoming increasingly alarmist. Objective observers might wonder if the aim is to provide bracingly frank analysis or to try and talk up the challenges of Brexit in the hope of making Scottish independence seem less of a risk.” – Scottish Secretary David Mundell quoted by ITV News Sturgeon: independence ‘transcends’ brexit, oil and the economy – Sunday Herald Alex Salmond: Nicola Sturgeon will hold second independence referendum in autumn 2018 – Sunday Telegraph Commonwealth nations ‘getting over shock’ of Brexit vote Secretary General Patricia Scotland told Sky News the Commonwealth nations would continue to try and intensify trade relationships with the UK. She added: “There’s no point in howling for the moon and rending our garments if this is where we are, and I think many Commonwealth countries are getting over the shock, because lots of people didn’t think it was going to happen and are now saying ok so what do we do now.” – Sky News Canada to step up UK trade with new export hub after Brexit vote – Sunday Telegraph Pakistan, UK to reshape trade ties to avoid Brexit impact – Gulf Today Lady Barbara Judge: There may be a sunnier post-Brexit if we become firm friends with Japan – Sunday Telegraph Japanese visitors bring hopes for business links with Scotland despite Brexit – The National Boost in funding to promote concept of EU citizenry after UK Brexit vote Officials for the European parliament claim there is now a “clear need” for a significant increase in spending on the Europe for Citizens programme, which aims to foster the notion of an EU citizenry through remembrance events, town twinning and involvement in European parliamentary elections. The programme had its budget cut from €215m to €185.5m after a request from Britain in 2013 – The Guardian Britain risks EU fines over trade Britain could be hit with millions of pounds in fines if the government starts negotiating trade deals with other countries before leaving the European Union. Leaked documents show that there is a “high risk” that the European Commission will take Britain to court and that EU countries could launch individual retaliations if ministers begin talks with countries with whom the EU is already trying to negotiate. – Sunday Times (£) Jean-Claude Juncker’s hunt for popularity “Is [he] sure that installing free WiFi in all cities the day after tomorrow is technically, politically or economically feasible? … Is he also sure that [EU governments] will supply a newly announced investment fund for Africa, when they failed to give enough money to earlier funds for migrants and refugees? … He risks falling into the same old trap of making promises that he can’t keep.” – Financial Times (£) Anti-Brussels rhetoric goes mainstream across Europe – Financial Times (£) London’s attempts at secret talks get cold shoulder from Brussels The lack of dialogue — even at informal level — is frustrating the British, who had hoped EU leaders gathering in Bratislava on Friday would use the opportunity to discuss their goals for post-Brexit relations. At present Brexit is only one of several discussion points at the leaders’ lunch, hosted on a Danube riverboat. – Financial Times (£) Diane James: My Ukip will enforce the wishes of the British people Ukip will not seek to destroy our country’s future by promising grandiose plans which involve unfunded billions in public expenditure. It will, however, ensure that monies freed from paying into a broken EU federalist project can be redirected within the UK to benefit enterprising small businesses, working mums and sole traders. – Diane James for The Sunday Times (£) Diane James challenges Carswell to push Article 50 through Parliament – Sunday Express New group steps up CIty’s Brexit lobbying efforts The City of London has stepped up its lobbying to secure a finance-friendly stance from the government in upcoming Brexit negotiations… The newly-formed European Financial Negotiating Group is chaired by Anthony Belchambers, who was in the Remain camp and used to lead the trade association for the derivatives industry, and prominent Leave campaigner Daniel Hodson. – Financial Times (£) Rod Liddle: Jumped-up Juncker is Europe’s best cure for Bregret The European Commission president was one of the main reasons I voted to leave. This unelected, dwarfish panjandrum…was a more compelling reason for me to vote “leave” than the EU’s bureaucracy, the immigration stuff, the byzantine financial affairs of the south of our continent and so on. – Rod Liddle for The Sunday Times (£) Steffan Lewis: Wales must take the lead as the UK redefines itself before Brexit Aside from the publication of six bullet points, the Welsh government response to Brexit has amounted to little more than detailed descriptions of the problems posed by the new political context. That particular niche is already well serviced by journalists. What is needed now is leadership. – Steffan Lewis for The Sunday Times (£) Letters: Britain must not be bullied into watering down its ambitions for Brexit Britain voted for control over its borders, control over its money, control over its laws and control of its waters. Anything less would be unacceptable and provoke justified anger. – Sunday Telegraph The EU still hasn’t understood that it is a totalitarian institution – Janet Daley for the Sunday Telegraph Brexit News in Brief National Theatre puts spotlight on Brexit Britain – BBC News Liam Fox tells UK businesses to invest more abroad – ITV News Nick Clegg says Brexit chaos can help Lib Dems back to power – The Guardian Sir Michael Fallon is too late to veto the European army – John Redwood MP’s Diary