Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team UK Brexit position paper commits to open and invisible Irish border… The government has said there must be an “unprecedented solution” for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit. A paper detailing its proposals focuses on the need to avoid a hard border. The government stresses there should be no physical infrastructure, such as customs posts, at the border, which has almost 300 crossing points… The government’s paper does not envisage CCTV cameras or number plate recognition technology at the border, or set back from it. Instead, the government is arguing for a wide-ranging exemption under which small and medium-sized businesses will not have to comply with any new customs tariffs. – BBC News The position paper also said that the Government is committed to maintaining the border-free Common Travel Area covering the UK and the Republic of Ireland. That means free movement across the border for British, Irish and EU citizens… It rejected the idea of an effective customs border in the Irish Sea as “not constitutionally or economically viable”… Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney welcomed the proposals, though he said more clarity was needed… Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said, “it is clear the Government has listened to voices in Belfast, Dublin, Brussels and London about how the United Kingdom’s only EU land border could be managed after we exit the EU.” But Sinn Fein called it “delusional”. – Sky News No return to Irish border posts, UK insists in Brexit plan – Guardian UK could replace EU peace funding for NI after Brexit – Sky News Michel Barnier to offer EU funding for Northern Ireland and says sector-by-sector access “on the table” – Telegraph (£) UK to seek Irish border waivers on customs and food safety after Brexit – Guardian Brexit, the border and Irish citizenship – Theresa May for Irish News UK: Northern Irish can still become EU citizens post Brexit – Politico Dublin welcomes ‘more clarity’ from UK on Brexit plans – Irish Times UK’s Brexit position paper on Ireland: Political reaction – BBC News Business groups welcome proposals for soft Irish border after Brexit – City A.M. Arlene Foster says DUP helped shape the UK’s proposals for the Irish border after Brexit – Telegraph Is the Norway-Sweden border a model for UK-Ireland? – Euractiv The UK wants an invisible border with Ireland after Brexit – here’s how it might work – James Rothwell for the Telegraph (£) > Hugh Bennett on BrexitCentral: How the UK plans to preserve the invisible Irish border after Brexit …with EU visitors set to keep visa-free travel to the UK… The government plans to keep visa-free travel to the UK for EU visitors after Brexit, the BBC understands. But if visitors from EU countries wanted to work, study or settle in the UK they would have to apply for permission under the proposals… The Home Office says managing migration is about access to work and benefits as much as the ability to control entry at a physical border… The UK already grants visa-free travel to nationals from 56 countries – ranging from the United States to the Maldives. – BBC News Brexit to still see free movement in new plans – but this time UK will have control – Express Theresa May must seek ‘liberal’ migration rules after Brexit to avoid ‘shooting herself in foot’, says Lord Hague – Telegraph Brexit is complex but possible without shooting yourself in the foot, says William Hague – Express …as Government dismisses suggestion open Irish border would provide a “backdoor” for illegal EU entry… Details of a new immigration system emerged as the government published a position paper on Northern Ireland in which it said that the UK would preserve the Common Travel Area (CTA), which allows movement across Ireland free from routine border controls… Critics claimed that this could offer a back door into Britain for EU citizens… Whitehall sources said: “Why would someone bother to go in through the back door rather than the front door? We have always been clear that the concern of the public is to take control of the number of people working and claiming benefits. It is not about issuing visas.” – The Times (£) European Union citizens will be free to cross into UK from Ireland after Brexit, British Government admits – Telegraph (£) Theresa May’s Brexit plan to keep Irish border wide open would leave a back door into Britain for thousands of illegal immigrants from the EU – The Sun EU migrants can enter UK without border checks after Brexit, Government confirms – HuffPost …with Britain prioritising a soft border over EU concerns about smuggling… Britain will not police cross-border smuggling in Ireland with permanent customs checks in the event of a hard Brexit, ministers warned the European Union yesterday. In an explicit threat before the next round of negotiations in Brussels, the government said that Britain would “always prioritise” demands to keep a soft border between north and south. One of the EU’s greatest fears is that Ireland could become a back door into EU markets for goods that are banned or attract high tariff levels after Britain leaves the bloc and signs its own free trade deals. – The Times (£) …as Irish exports to Britain surge despite Brexit Exports to Britain were almost €900 million higher in the first six months of the year than at the same point in 2016 despite the impact of Brexit on the cost of Irish goods. The value of Irish goods exports rose by 14 per cent to €7.2 billion in the six months to the end of June. The comparative figure in the opening six months of 2016 was €6.3 billion. – The Times (£) Irish exports to Britain jump despite Brexit uncertainty – Irish News Andrew Murrison: Peace in Northern Ireland was hard-won. The EU must help Britain maintain it after Brexit The re-emergence of physical infrastructure at the border would have a huge psychological impact on the peace process. Keen to empire build in defence and security, the EU should focus on its duty to facilitate peace at its borders, starting with the one that will emerge in March 2019. UK ministers are pinning their hopes on technology to make the border both secure and invisible. Although the position paper is thin on detail, it is reasonable also to pin down the European Council on the “flexible and imaginative solutions” it anticipates in its Brexit negotiating guidelines. – Andrew Murrison MP, Northern Ireland Select Committee Chair for the Telegraph (£) Why the Northern Ireland border problem is crucial to a Brexit deal – Oliver Wright for The Times (£) Britain is fighting to save Ireland from an EU-imposed hard border – Asa Bennett for the Telegraph (£) There’s just no pleasing Remainers – even the idea of a ‘frictionless border’ in Ireland doesn’t help – The Sun says The government’s Brexit Irish border plan is lacking in detail – Tom Goodenough for the Spectator Britain, Ireland and Brexit. Bordering on talking past each other. – Paul Goodman for ConservativeHome Progress, but no solution to Ireland’s Brexit problem – Charlie Cooper and Simon Marks for Politico The EU is becoming less hospitable for Ireland – it’s time it joined Britain in leaving – Ray Bassett for the Telegraph (£) UK insists EU trade talks ‘will start on time’ despite stalling tactics from Eurocrat negotiators… Brexit minister David Davis’ department is “confident” enough work will be done by October for EU trade talks to begin on time despite naysaying from cabinet ministers. And Mr Davis expects both the UK and EU to have a “dynamic and flexible approach” to each round of the negotiations following months of stalling from Brussels, officials from The Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) claimed… It comes as Cabinet ministers involved in Brexit talks are said to have privately revealed the trade deal phase of negotiations may not begin until the end of the year. – Express Next phase of Brexit talks ‘likely delayed’ to December according to Cabinet sources – Sky News …as Liam Fox and Boris Johnson reportedly insist Brexit transition must be no longer than 12 months The Sun can reveal that the Cabinet’s two leading hardline Brexiteers have now joined forces to dig in and insist the UK must be free to reap the benefits of new trade deals across the globe within a year of Brexit happening on March 30, 2019. A source close to Boris and Dr Fox said: “No length of time had been signed off by the Cabinet for the transition period yet, so it’s utterly wrong of Hammond and Davis to be waving around two or three years. There will be very big trouble ahead if they carry on like this. Liam and Boris see one year as the maximum period we would ever need. There is a world out there waiting for us, and we need to get on with embracing it.” – The Sun UK exports to the EU surge on weaker pound… Britain’s factories benefited from a surge in sales to the EU in the first half of this year as export growth outstripped import growth… A weaker pound means British-made goods are more competitive abroad, while imports are more expensive to UK companies and consumers… The UK’s total trade deficit has shrunk from €102.2bn in the first half of 2016 to €83.7bn this year. – Telegraph …as unemployment hits four-decade low The UK’s unemployment rate fell again to its lowest level in over 40 years in June, while wage growth climbed above expectations in an impressive jobs report that has helped push up the pound this morning. Latest official figures for the three months to June show the jobless rate fell from 4.5 per cent to 4.4 per cent – defying expectations of no change and underscoring the country’s impressive job creation since the financial crisis. – FT (£) Still no sign of Remoaner economic disaster as post-Brexit job boom breaks records – Express Amazon to create 1,000 jobs in UK to seize ‘fantastic opportunities’ after Brexit – Express Almost half of Britons think the UK is in recession – City A.M. Has the ‘jobs miracle’ lost its electoral appeal? – Mark Wallace for ConservativeHome Ministers must use Brexit opportunity to ‘free’ councils by slashing bureaucracy, LGA says Ministers must use the opportunity to Brexit to free councils by slashing bureaucracy and red tape, the Local Government Association has said. EU rules on how goods and services are bought have a “huge bearing” on local economies and can “stifle” efforts to transform areas, according to the LGA. It has called on the Government to introduce a simpler system after Britain quits the bloc, insisting reforms could speed up contracting and cut administration bills. – Telegraph Freeing councils from restrictive Brussels legislation post-Brexit could boost jobs and growth, says local government body – The Sun Government dismisses Guy Verhofstadt’s claims its plans for a new customs relationship with Brussels are a ‘fantasy’ Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire defended the UK’s proposal as Theresa May restated her opposition to the reintroduction of border checks in Northern Ireland after we leave. Mr Brokenshire refused to accept the plans were “unrealistic” after criticism from the European Parliament’s Brexit spokesman Guy Verhofstadt. [Brokenshire said]: “I don’t accept that it is fantasy. It is setting out two proposals for further discussion.” And he said it was not “unrealistic” to claim there could be a frictionless border because it was in the interests of both sides. – The Sun There are enough sensible figures in and around Brussels to ensure that Brexit talks are conducted properly – The Sun says Brexiteers have called EU’s bluff over withdrawal – Leo McKinstry for the Express Brexit position papers: What does Britain want from the EU? – Asa Bennett for the Telegraph (£) What would the “innovative and untested” customs proposal mean for the UK? – Ben Kelly for Reaction > Matthew Lesh on BrexitCentral: Blockchain offers an innovative solution to the Brexit customs puzzle > Joseph Hackett on BrexitCentral: The ‘New Customs Partnership’ – untested for a very good reason Labour shadow minister repeatedly fails to answer customs union question then contradicts his boss Labour have found themselves in another Brexit shambles as a bungling shadow minister repeatedly failed to answer a question about membership of the customs union. But Bill Esterson insisted during a torrid media round that Britain could stay in it – despite his boss saying the idea is a “disaster”… The MP for Sefton Central was asked five times on BBC Radio 5Live if his party was in power whether the UK would remain part of the trade group… Mr Esterson had earlier endured a grilling on Radio 4’s Today programme, when he failed 11 times to set out Labour’s position on the customs union. – The Sun Jeremy Corbyn betting on Brexit fatigue – Politico Theresa May to fly to Japan to kick start post-Brexit trade talks The Prime Minister will take a delegation of business leaders to boost Britain’s export industry – but the trip could be overshadowed by the North Korea nuclear crisis. Theresa May will meet Shinzo Abe on her trip to Japan later this month. Mrs May will hope to build on Boris Johnson’s trip to Tokyo last month, when he said Britain was poised for an “all-singing, all dancing” free trade deal when we leave the EU. – The Sun Asia finance “committed” to City after Brexit finish Asia’s key financial centres remain committed to the UK despite the Brexit vote, according to the City’s top lobbying body. Policy documents from the Asia team at the City of London Corporation reveal it will “focus on” building relationships with China, India and Singapore in the next year to create “a bridge between London and Asia to discuss finance and services connections”. The Brexit process will likely make it more difficult for foreigners using British financial services to access European markets, but the corporation said this would not diminish the opportunity in Asia for London. – City A.M. Remainers plotting to get Britain straight back in the European Union by the mid-2020s… Pro-EU MPs hope a poor post-Brexit trade deal with Brussels may open the way for a second referendum, reports the New Statesman. They believe voters will be more likely to vote for EU membership after they see what our new trading relationship with Brussels looks like – hoping it’s a failure… Remainers believe voters could then be offered a choice between the new arrangement and rejoining the EU through rules set out under Article 49 of the Lisbon Treaty. This is an “alternative strategy” to staging a “premature” referendum in 2019, sources explained. – The Sun Hopes of an anti-Brexit party are illusory, but Remainers have a new plan to stay in the EU – George Eaton for the New Statesman The trouble with a second Brexit referendum – George Eaton for the New Statesman …as former Lib Dem chief Nick Clegg prepares to write book on how to stop Britain from leaving the EU Former Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg to write a self-help guide for Remainers on how to stop Britain from leaving the EU. The ex-Deputy PM is to pen his second book – giving advice to those refuse to accept the referendum result and who want to wreck Brexit… The manual, titled ‘How to Stop Brexit’, will be published in October. His publisher described his latest work as “the indispensable handbook to saving your country from an utterly pointless calamity”. Mr Clegg lost his Sheffield seat in June’s election, but has vowed not to give up on fighting our exit. – The Sun Faisal Islam: Why we could end up with a creme brulee Brexit – soft, with a hard top The Government Brexit papers on Northern Ireland and on customs are important for what they rule out and what they are trying to do. On Northern Ireland there is more flesh on the bones, but the basic ask is this: help us to maintain the same border arrangements as exist right now. Yes there will be a customs border, but of the entirely virtual sort… The net effect of this is to shift the burden of making this work to Dublin and Brussels. Any hardening of the border to maintain the uniformity of the customs union and single market is for Dublin and Brussels, who will then get the blame. – Faisal Islam for Sky News Peter Ammon: Britain must reverse the decline in foreign language learning if it’s to thrive outside the EU The UK rightly intends to play an even greater role in a globalised world after Brexit. This, I believe, will not be possible unless young Britons are encouraged to be outward-looking from an early age. Learning a foreign language will be key, and German, which is mother tongue to more people in Europe than any other language, would be an ideal choice… I believe that, against the backdrop of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, it will become more and more important for Germany and the UK to reinforce their bilateral relations, not only at government level, but also and above all by building strong people-to-people ties. – Peter Ammon, German Ambassador to the UK, for the Telegraph (£) John Longworth: Stop talking Britain down, Remainers: We hold the aces, and the EU is desperate for a deal Any payment we do make should be viewed as a transaction. Britain must get its money’s worth, and ignore the bluster from the EU side, claiming that we need to pay a settlement before there can be any deal. On the contrary – as in any good business transaction, there should be no payment until the deal is in place. We pay after delivery, or not at all. – John Longworth for the Telegraph (£) Manoj Ladwa: Brexit is the moment to transform our ties with India The potential boost to UK exports from a UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has been valued at £2.1 billion by a Commonwealth report… We need to start to offer flexible, pragmatic proposals sooner than 2019; PM Modi will (hopefully) arrive in London next April to attend the Commonwealth Summit and there is already palpable anticipation ahead of the gathering of leaders – the first to be held since the UK triggered Article 50… The will to reform the sleepy Commonwealth has never been stronger and the UK now has every reason to reaffirm its commitment to the growth of bilateral partnerships with its member nations, to complement trade with our immediate European neighbours. – Manoj Ladwa for the Telegraph (£) The UK is out of step with its closest ally, 70 years after India’s independence – Manoj Ladwa for Reaction Brexit comment in brief The Government must operate with a purpose on Brexit to fulfil Britain’s destiny – Telegraph editorial (£) Why Gibraltarians deserve their own Member of Parliament – Michael Mosacher for CapX Miliband’s second referendum idea’s bananas – Ben Somervell for CommentCentral Nobody wants Brexit more than me, but it should not be done in a click of the fingers – Amjad Bashir MEP for the Telegraph (£) Don’t believe the Brexit hysteria – Lee Rotherham for CapX Pending Brexit, immigration has still not been addressed – Jayne Adye for The Commentator As Italy bears the brunt of the migrant crisis, has it been left by the EU to fend for itself? – Asa Bennett for the Telegraph (£) A ‘truly global Britain’ would abolish air passenger duty – John O’Connell and Tim Alderslade for City A.M. Will Brexit mean ‘car-mageddon’ for the UK’s automotive sector? – Alan Tovey for the Telegraph (£) Referendums are now an integral part of UK politics, but the rules are in desperate need of reform – Dr Alan Renwick for the Telegraph (£) Brexit news in brief British farmers wary of Brexit but see potential global prize – Telegraph (£) One in five unemployed people in the UK are migrants, official figures reveal for the first time – Telegraph (£) Belgium raises concerns over terrorist financing as study reveals it is the most lenient EU country on money laundering – City A.M. Pro-Leave Nottingham vies to become European Capital of Culture – The Times (£) BBC demands to see conductor’s speech ahead of Last Night of the Proms over Brexit concerns – Telegraph And finally… Benedict Cumberbatch tipped to play Nigel Farage in Brexit TV series A Hollywood studio is poised to sign a £60 million deal to make a six-part series telling the tale of Nigel Farage’s part in Brexit. The script will be based on the diary The Bad Boys of Brexit: Tales of Mischief, Mayhem & Guerrilla Warfare in the EU Referendum Campaign, by Arron Banks, the multimillionaire insurance tycoon who helped to finance the Leave.EU group that was backed by Ukip. Casting is said to be taking place this autumn and filming will begin next year after a contract is signed in Los Angeles next month. – The Times (£)