Theresa May facing double defeat over Article 50 Bill as Lords prepares to debate amendments on EU citizens and final vote for MPs… Theresa May is facing a double defeat over the Brexit Bill as peers from across parties back extra protections for EU citizens and a veto on the final deal. Labour, Liberal Democrats, cross-benchers and Tory rebels have all rallied around two amendments that would force changes on the legislation to start Brexit talks. One change would ensure every EU citizen currently in Britain keeps the right to work and stay here, even if Britons living on the Continent lose protections. The second would force ministers to get the approval of MPs and peers on the final Brexit deal before they withdraw from the EU – an effective veto. – Sunday Telegraph …as Gina Miller demands Lords show ‘backbone’ in changing Theresa May’s Bill on eve of critical debate… The campaigner who forced Theresa May to ask Parliament’s permission to trigger Article 50 has demanded the House of Lords show “backbone” and push the Government into concessions on Brexit. Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Gina Miller said those debating Ms May’s Article 50 Bill this week must take the lead because the House of Commons had shown “cowardice” in failing to win any compromise. – The Independent …and Lord Heseltine vows to head Tory rebellion against PM on Brexit Theresa May is facing a rebellion in the House of Lords – with Tory grandee Michael Heseltine vowing to defy the Prime Minister and back opposition efforts to ensure Parliament gets a meaningful vote on the final outcome of Brexit negotiations. Lord Heseltine said Labour, Lib Dem and rebellious Conservative colleagues are prepared to throw their support behind a change to the Government’s Brexit Bill. They want Parliament to have the ability to veto the outcome of Mrs May’s negotiations in Brussels, including if she walks away without a deal. – Sky News My fightback starts here: He defied one PM over the Poll Tax and now Michael Heseltine says he’s ready to do the same in the Lords over Brexit – Lord Heseltine for the Mail on Sunday Brussels wants to push back Brexit cut-off date for EU migrants until Britain actually leaves… EU chiefs are set to call for European nationals who arrive in Britain over the next two years to be allowed to stay permanently, according to reports. Brussels officials are said to be keen for new migrants to be permitted to remain in Britain after Brexit. But Prime Minister Theresa May is under pressure to insist on a cut-off point barring immigrants since last year’s referendum date from being allowed to stay. It is thought that thousands more EU nationals will opt to settle in the UK if the cut off point is extended. – Mail on Sunday … as the number of EU care workers in UK surges The number of non-British EU nationals working in the UK’s crisis-stricken social care system has shot up by more than 40% in three years, according to official figures – prompting fears that Brexit will lead to a catastrophic staffing crisis across the sector. The data released in answer to a parliamentary question by the Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake shows the total increased from 65,000 in December 2013 to 92,000 by September last year, the most recent date for which figures are available. The proportion of the social care workforce from other European countries varies by region, from 2% in the north-east to 12% in London, showing how a system already suffering recruitment problems is hugely reliant on EU workers in large parts of the country. In all, European workers make up 7% of a social care workforce of 1.34 million. – The Observer Commonwealth trade negotiators being seconded to Britain to help train civil servants ahead of Brexit… Ministers are recruiting the “best” trade negotiators from across the Commonwealth to help train civil servants in securing trade deals ahead of Brexit. Officials from New Zealand, Australia and Canada have been targeted for secondments at the International Trade Department to help with preparations for talks. Greg Hands, the trade minister, issued a public call inviting Commonwealth trade experts to spend time in Britain during a debate in the Commons this week. There is a concern that the UK lacks the expertise for complex trade negotiations after 40 years of relying on Brussels to secure such deals. A New Zealand official has already been seconded to train up Britain’s trade policy unit, while there is a hope more will follow. – Sunday Telegraph …as Britain prepares to host Commonwealth trade summit Britain is to host a summit of Commonwealth trade ministers to kick-start talks on a free-trade deal with some of the UK’s closest allies. More than 30 ministers will attend the summit in London on March 9 and 10, along with 60 business leaders. They are expected to sign an accord that will pave the way for a free-trade deal between Britain and countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada after Brexit. The summit, to be attended by Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, will also seek to put other leading Commonwealth countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and India on course for greater trade liberalisation. At the event, ministers and business leaders will chair events on key issues such as finance, technology, good business practice and attracting inward investment. – Sunday Times (£) Films made in Britain make more than a quarter of world’s entire box office takings Films made in Britain now make more than a quarter of the world’s entire box office takings, it has emerged ahead of tomorrow’s Oscars. International Trade minister Mark Garnier released the new figures about the booming UK movie-making industry as he called on world talent to keep on coming here after Brexit. The silver screen is now worth £4.1 billion to the UK economy — including a massive £1.35 billion last year generated in overseas production companies investing in Britain. The boom saw this year’s biggest films – Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Fantastic Beasts and The Jungle Book – all made in the UK. Mr Garnier last night called the Britain “a cultural capital” adding “our creative talents are the envy of the world. – The Sun on Sunday > Wendy Earl on BrexitCentral today: Those in the arts and creative industries should have nothing to fear from Brexit Benefits for migrants face axe The biggest shake-up of immigration policy in a generation is expected to see multi-year visas handed to migrants who get jobs in key sectors of the economy but limit access to benefits for new arrivals. Under plans advocated by senior ministers the government would seek to take political heat out of immigration by getting an independent body to advise on how many visas should be issued. At a meeting of the cabinet’s Brexit committee on Thursday, Theresa May ordered ministers to draw up a two-stage plan: first, to deal with EU nationals already in the UK; second, to set up a new visa regime for those who arrive later. Ministers were also told to draw up a “traffic light” system, issuing regular red, amber and green updates on their preparedness for Brexit. – The Sunday Times (£) Brexit minister tells peers: Don’t tie Theresa May’s hands Like many other members of the House of Lords, having weighed up the arguments I voted to Remain in last summer’s referendum. So I do not dismiss the challenges facing the UK as it prepares to negotiate an exit and a new partnership with the European Union, which were debated at length by peers this week. But in my job as a minister at the Department for Exiting the EU, I am now working to ensure the UK embraces its new place in the world and is best placed to take advantage of the many opportunities that will open up, too. – Lord Bridges for the Sunday Telegraph Liam Halligan: The anti-EU revolt is fast gaining impetus UK fourth-quarter growth was last week revised up to 0.7pc, meaning our economy expanded by a relatively healthy 1.8pc in 2016. Exports were up 4.1pc. While the UK faces huge challenges, compared to some EU counterparts our economy appears rather buoyant and our domestic politics, in relative terms at least, and despite on-going Brexit dilemmas, astonishingly stable. Brussels bureaucrats will keep grandstanding over the need to “punish” the UK for leaving. The reality is, though, that by holding a referendum, and engaging in a vigorous debate about the EU, Britain has not only raised our long-term growth prospects but also largely defused the danger of genuine political extremism. Our European neighbours need to learn the same lesson, lest it be forced upon them. – Liam Halligan for the Sunday Telegraph Hugo Swire MP: Brexit gives an opportunity to improve our passport security A few weeks ago a Belgian court convicted 14 people of falsifying ID documents, some of which were sold to Islamist militants involved in the terror attacks on Paris and Brussels. For many of my generation fake IDs were about getting into pubs and clubs, or buying a pint and a packet of cigarettes a couple of years before we were supposed to. For this generation, as the families of those slain in Paris, Brussels and countless other attacks will testify, the end results of fake IDs can now be unimaginably awful. – Hugo Swire MP for ConservativeHome Brexit comment in brief Peace in Ireland depends upon an open border – Lord Hain for The Observer The EU’s unemployment problem – John Redwood for John Redwood’s Diary If Scottish Labour wants to survive against the SNP, it needs to start listening to Tony Blair – John Mckee for The Independent Brexit news in brief Brexit brings new questions about investing down on the farm – The Observer Brexit ‘may reduce prospect of co-operation’ in Northern Ireland – Sky News