Heavyweight Brexiteers among 60 Tory MPs to demand clean break from the EU Sixty Tory MPs including seven ex-Cabinet ministers have demanded Theresa May pulls Britain out of the single market and customs union amid fears her Brexit stance could be watered down. Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith, John Whittingdale and Theresa Villiers are among the leading Eurosceptics to put their names to the negotiation demand. The politicians have gone public through The Telegraph amid concerns that pro-EU figures in the Cabinet are fighting to soften the Government’s Brexit position. – Sunday Telegraph Senior Remain-supporting Tories urge May to scrap Article 50 appeal… Oliver Letwin, the former head of the government’s Brexit preparations, has called on the prime minister to abandon its supreme court appeal over the decision on article 50, the mechanism that triggers exit negotiations. The former attorney general Dominic Grieve and former solicitor-general Sir Edward Garnier also said May should avoid taking the case to the UK’s highest court. The three Conservatives, who all supported the remain campaign, said they wanted the process to start as soon as possible with a bill in parliament. – The Observer …as does prominent Leave backer Owen Paterson A senior Tory MP who campaigned to Leave the EU has joined the chorus of Remain MPs who want Theresa May to drop her Government’s Brexit High Court challenge. Owen Paterson told Theresa May and her Government to “drop the challenge” and focus on getting a Brexit bill through parliament as quickly as possible. The MP who was a prominent Leave campaigner said that the Supreme Court ruling would be a waste of time since in his view the Government had little chance of winning. – Sunday Express Europe’s leaders to force Britain into ‘hard Brexit’ European leaders have come to a 27-nation consensus that a “hard Brexit” is likely to be the only way to see off future populist insurgencies, which could lead to the break-up of the European Union… According to senior officials at the highest levels of European governments, allowing Britain favourable terms of exit could represent an existential danger to the EU, since it would encourage similar demands from other countries with significant Eurosceptic movements. One top EU diplomat told the Observer: “If you British are not prepared to compromise on free movement, the only way to deal with Brexit is hard Brexit. Otherwise we would be seen to be giving in to a country that is leaving. That would be fatal.” – The Observer Why Europe will drive a ‘hard Brexit’ – Toby Helm, Political Editor of The Observer Ministers aim for UK-US ‘statement of intent’ within months to reduce trade barriers… Ministers want to sign a “statement of intent” deal with Donald Trump within months to work on reducing trade US-UK barriers, The Sunday Telegraph understands… Crucially it would not break EU rules that forbid Britain signing fully trade deals until it has formally left the block, currently expected to be 2019… “Donald Trump’s victory opens up new options that weren’t there under the current administration. We are optimistic and waiting to hear what his trading position will look like,” a senior Whitehall source said. – Sunday Telegraph …as Donald Trump is to be invited to meet the Queen in a state visit next year According to several newspapers, senior government officials are said to be drawing up plans for the visit as early as next year, as they ponder how to cement the “special relationship”. The US president-elect reportedly told Prime Minister Theresa May during a phone call last week that his late Scottish mother was a “big fan” of the Queen, according to the Sunday Times. – Sky News Tony Blair reportedly re-entering politics to make his presence felt on Brexit Tony Blair is positioning himself to play a pivotal role in shaping Britain’s Brexit deal by scouting out a power base in Westminster, The Sunday Times has learnt. The former prime minister is setting up an institute close to Whitehall and has held talks with senior ministers and officials as he seeks to re-enter British politics. A source who has discussed Brexit with Blair said: “He’s not impressed with Theresa May. He thinks she’s a total lightweight. He thinks Jeremy Corbyn is a nutter and the Tories are screwing up Brexit. He thinks there’s a massive hole in British politics that he can fill.” Blair is due to meet May for coffee soon. But the prime minister’s aides believe he is part of an “unholy alliance” of former ministers who are determined to disrupt Brexit. – Sunday Times (£) Nobel laureate calls for radical reform of the EU in the wake of Brexit Bengt Holmström, a Nobel laureate in economics, has slammed the structure of the superstate, calling for the institution to be overhauled. He held up the EU as an example of bad contracts, as he launched a scathing attack on the European project. The Finnish scientist said: “We should rethink the whole EU and start anew.” – Sunday Express Second World War victory proves civil service can deliver Brexit, says ex-Cabinet Secretary Lord Butler of Brockwell dismissed as “unfair” suggestions that Whitehall is in “chaos” over delivering the vote to leave the EU. He told The Sunday Telegraph those warning that civil servants are ill-prepared for Brexit talks are “crying before the milk’s been spilt”. “I’ve got pretty good confidence in the civil service. We could organise the Second World War, so I guess we could still organise Brexit,” he said. Lord Butler served as cabinet secretary and head of civil service under three prime ministers. – Sunday Telegraph Banks want to stay in ‘financial centre’ London after Brexit Despite anti-Brexit prophets of doom in the run-up to the referendum major banks have no plans to leave London, as leaders speak out in favour of Britain’s capital. Financial firms have also said they are unlikely to make any major decisions before the terms of Britain’s exit have been set, and that it would be difficult for any European city to replace London as the financial centre of the region. It comes after the Prime Minister said Britain will be unashamedly pro-Business after it leaves the EU. – Sunday Express Brexit, what Brexit? Londoners upbeat despite uncertainty While there is still a great deal of uncertainty about Britain’s exit from the European Union, many ordinary Londoners and officials are confident about the city’s prospects — despite the doom and gloom predicted by many experts. – NBC News Philip Hammond MP: My first Autumn Statement will prepare Britain for its post-Brexit future Unlike some politicians, I have heard the voice of the people and my commitment is to deliver the best possible deal for Britain. No ifs, no buts. As the economy adjusts to the new realities of leaving the EU, there will be both opportunities and challenges. Facing the future, we can take heart from the strength of the British economy in the lead up to the referendum and its remarkable resilience since. – Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, in the Sunday Telegraph (£) The British people have taken a historic decision to leave the European Union. That clear mandate will guide the Government’s economic strategy too. I want our economy match-fit for when we leave the EU and take on the world. – Philip Hammond MP writing in the Sun on Sunday Suella Fernandes MP: Britain must untie itself from EU shackles by using Brexit to leave the customs union In order to realise the Prime Minister’s vision of a nation exporting goods and services around the world, open for international business, supporting emerging markets and spreading the benefits of economic growth, Britain will need to liberate itself from the burdens of the customs union. Only in leaving will we truly be a beacon of international free trade. – Vice Chair of the European Research Group, Suella Fernandes MP, in the Sunday Telegraph (£) John Penrose MP: Enough of doubt and division on Brexit. Let’s work together and get it done well If we keep picking over the bones of old battles, we will never heal the wounds of a 52/48 election result. As a country, we have to come together to make the best of the decision we have collectively taken. And as MPs, we have to react positively, optimistically and maturely as we try to make sense of the mandate given to us by the British people. Which is why I’ve decided to do two things in Parliament to help move the Brexit debate forwards. – John Penrose MP for ConservativeHome Mark Fox: European leaders need to adopt a friendlier tone, for all our sakes We need to re-fashion the relationship so it strengthens both sides, not weakens each other. By treating Britain in such an aggressive way European leaders not only further alienate the British, they also show to their own domestic voters that they are not interested in the concerns of ordinary people and remain pre-occupied by their own ambitions rather than the concerns of those who vote for them. – Mark Fox for Reaction Brexit comment in brief May must act now to prevent a war of attrition sabotaging Brexit – Henry Hill for ConservativeHome We as a nation are completely unprepared for the staggering complexity of Brexit – Christopher Booker in the Sunday Telegraph (£) The political and legal headaches caused by Brexit have only just begun – Sara Hagemann for the LSE blog Calling Trump and Brexit voters post-truth fascists won’t win the Left any elections – Tim Stanley for the Daily Telegraph (£) Their ‘post-truth’ comfort blanket is all the liberals have left – Rod Liddle for the Sunday Times (£) The shock lessons for liberals from Brexit and the Trumpquake – Andrew Rawnsley for The Observer The Left is in its pulpit again. Britain shouldn’t listen to its sanctimony – Janet Daley in the Sunday Telegraph (£) Is this the last stand for Nicolas Sarkozy? – Henry Samuel for the Sunday Telegraph (£) Brexit news in brief Angela Merkel expected to announce bid for fourth term as German Chancellor today – Reuters Johnson is accused of bringing the wrong notes to Cabinet meeting – Mail on Sunday Nigel Farage to make new comeback bid if South Thanet by-election takes place – Mail on Sunday BBC risks bias claim as TV chief who sailed on Bob Geldof’s pro-EU boat during the referendum is set to host Brexit show – Sun on Sunday Brexit fears raised over UK’s status as Europe’s broadcast centre – FT (£) CBI boss Paul Drechsler to tell Theresa May: We must have a Brexit plan – Mail on Sunday CBI calls for partnership with government after bruising EU campaign – Sunday Telegraph The Liberal Democrats could overtake Labour at the next election because of their promise to hold a second EU referendum suggests new poll – PoliticsHome Scotland did not vote unanimously to remain in the European Union – Sunday Express Scottish council leaders blast ‘snub’ by SNP over Brexit talks – The Scotsman ‘Fundamental to future food production’: Brexit may allow farmers to grow GM crops – Farming UK And finally… A first review of Brexit: The Musical Theresa May is a witch, Michael Gove is a camp creep, Nicola Sturgeon is a hag, and Jean-Claude Juncker is a drunken, belching Eurocrat. No one comes out of David Shirreff’s new satirical play about the EU referendum – Brexit: The Musical – with credit. It is the first in a slew of forthcoming films and plays inspired by the referendum. They will have their work cut out to match the wit and pace of this musical romp, performed at London’s Canal Cafe Theatre. – Simon Walters in the Mail on Sunday