Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team Theresa May heads to Chequers for crucial Brexit war cabinet talks Theresa May and her senior ministers will try to hammer out a deal over the government’s approach to Brexit when they meet at her country retreat. The Brexit sub-committee gathers at Chequers with the government under pressure to spell out in detail what it wants to secure from Brexit talks. The UK has said it wants a “deep and special” partnership with the EU. But ministers have been at odds over how closely the EU and UK should align after exit day in March 2019. The Brexit sub committee includes key figures like Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond. Mrs May will be hoping to secure sign-off for a key Brexit speech she is expected to give in the coming weeks. – BBC News Talks scheduled to last up to eight hours will begin with an afternoon meeting, followed by drinks and then dinner, as the Prime Minister battles to reach an agreement between her ministers. It has even been suggested that if the ministers on the Cabinet’s Brexit sub-committee fail to reach an agreement the PM will keep them at Chequers overnight and as long as necessary until a deal is done… The away-day also comes amid signs of growing impatience with Mrs May and her government among leaders of the other 27 EU countries about what kind of Brexit the UK wants after it leaves the European Union. On the eve of the Cabinet away-day, after talks with Mrs May in 10 Downing Street the Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte warned the “clock is ticking” and called for swift action. – Sky News May asks senior diplomats to brief ministers at Chequers on “likely reaction” to Britain’s opening Brexit offer – The Times (£) Theresa May must come out of Chequers with a real plan to take Brexit forward – Telegraph editorial (£) > Jonathan Isaby on BrexitCentral today: The Brexit War Cabinet’s decisions need to match Theresa May’s own red lines and rhetoric UK formally asks EU for flexibility to extend Brexit transition period… The United Kingdom wants more flexibility on the length of a Brexit transition period, which could last longer than two years, according to its formal response to a draft EU text covering the period immediately after Brexit. According to the document, first published by Bloomberg, London says that although the transition is likely to last for two years, the duration should be determined by how long it takes to “prepare and implement the new processes and systems that will underpin the future partnership.” It adds that U.K. negotiators wish “to discuss with the EU the assessment that supports its proposed end date.” – Politico UK would have to pay even higher divorce bill for longer transition period – Independent …as senior ministers say Cabinet did not agree to Theresa May’s strategy for Brexit transition period before it was sent to EU nations… The official strategy document, which was published on Wednesday, prompted a furious backlash after raising the prospect of an open-ended transition period after Brexit. The legal text makes no mention of Theresa May’s pledge to end free movement after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019, while eurosceptics also raised concerns that it could limit Britain’s ability to strike free trade deals. The Telegraph understands that Cabinet ministers were told about the position paper less than 24 hours before it was published, and several of them were furious about its contents… Allies of Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, told The Telegraph that the document is a “draft of a draft” and has not been agreed by the Cabinet. Senior Tory eurosceptics said that the document is “deeply troubling” and urged the Prime Minister to disown it. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a leading eurosceptic Tory MP, today warns in an article for The Telegraph that the document would lead to “Brexit in name only” and is a “perversion of democracy”. – Telegraph (£) Brexiteer backlash at Theresa May over plan for open-ended transition – The Times (£) Theresa May battling fresh Brexiteer rebellion after asking Brussels for a transition without end – The Sun Jacob Rees-Mogg slams Whitehall ‘Remainer’ transition dossier – Express The government now says it may seek to lengthen the transition period after Brexit. The danger is that the process could drag on indefinitely – Times leader (£) > Gisela Stuart on BrexitCentral today: The Government must not allow the UK to drift into permanent EU purgatory …as Brexit minister Steve Baker insists there will be a ‘fixed date’ for end of Brexit transition period A Government minister has insisted there will be a “fixed date” for the end of the Brexit transition period, after a leaked document emerged which appeared to suggest it could last “indefinitely”. The promise from Brexit minister Steve Baker represents a move to quell a potential Brexiteer backlash over the length of the implementation period, which has emerged as one the key bones of contention among MPs who voted Leave in the 2016 referendum… Some in Prime Minister Theresa May’s party see no need for a transition and worry it will leave the UK as a “vassal state”, while others are willing to wait a little longer before seeing their dream of exiting the EU realised. – Sky News Britain will be out by 2021: Downing Street hits back at ‘indefinite’ Brexit transition – Express > WATCH: Steve Baker says the transition will be “absolutely” time-limited Jeremy Corbyn ‘ready to show Brexit hand’ in big speech next week Jeremy Corbyn will put himself “front and center” of Labour’s Brexit strategy next week with a major speech on Monday designed to clarify the party’s position. The U.K. Labour leader will jump the gun on Prime Minister Theresa May, who is not expected to set out her vision for Britain’s future relationship with the EU until March 1, although this date has not been confirmed. Aides familiar with the speech, which comes after a special “away day” of Labour’s Brexit team last Monday, said it will be a key moment in the party’s evolving position on the U.K.’s exit from the European Union. – Politico Corbyn to deliver Labour’s Brexit road map – The Times (£) Diane Abbott sparks fury over Britain’s immigration views as she draws pre-Nazi Germany comparisons – Telegraph Juncker’s “monster” Martin Selmayr secures Commission top job The College of Commissioners on Wednesday appointed Selmayr, Juncker’s chief of staff, to the role of secretary-general, the European Commission’s top civil servant. That means the German lawyer will stay on at the EU executive after the 2019 European election — and impose himself as a key figure in the Brussels power game regardless of who becomes the next Commission president… His appointment was added to the College agenda at the last minute, a participant of the meeting said, in a bid to avoid the news being leaked and to prevent commissioners from coordinating opposition to the move… The German has been described as a bottleneck blocking commissioners’ policy ideas, a fierce gatekeeper protecting Juncker’s office and a brilliant lawyer who was able to impose Juncker’s (and his own) will on the Commission’s toolbox of legal initiatives. – Politico Martin Selmayr, the ‘monster eurocrat’ accused of trying to wreck Brexit, becomes Brussels’ top civil servant – Telegraph (£) Brussels ‘monster’ given key role overseeing negotiations – The Times (£) London worried about promotion for ‘Berlaymont monster’ – Tom McTague for Politico How Martin Selmayr became EU’s top (un)civil servant – David M. Herszenhorn for Politico Britain risks trade deal ‘poison pill’ if it sticks close to Brussels, US delegation head warns Britain’s hopes of a free trade deal with America would be undermined if it keeps restrictive EU rules after Brexit, the head of a US congressional delegation has warned. George Holding, chairman of the Britain American Parliamentary Group, told The Telegraph that staying too aligned to Brussels could create a “poison pill” for US trade talks… With debate raging about the nature of the UK’s future relationship with Brussels, Mr Holding voiced concern about adopting too many EU rules. “It’s important for the UK to understand how politically popular a trade agreement would be in the United States and how many members of Congress would like this agreement,” he told this newspaper. “As the UK negotiates its exit and its relationship with the EU, the worst thing would be for the EU to agree standards or requirements with the UK that would amount to a poison pill to the US.” Mr Holding added: “The big reward is a US-UK deal. We don’t want to have anything that precludes the fullest UK-US relationship that you could possibly have.” – Telegraph (£) Malaysia eyes Brexit trade deal as it demands UK’s support in palm oil row with EU – Telegraph (£) Mix of Brexit and China opening doors will give chance of ‘economic boom’, says CBI Director – The Sun Ministers prepare to tell devolved administrations they will immediately transfer “vast majority” of EU powers Scottish and UK ministers are expected to clash again over Brexit at a crunch meeting in London today. David Davis, the UK Brexit secretary, will sit down with Mike Russell, Scotland’s Brexit minister, in an attempt to break the deadlock over key legislation. Mr Davis is expected to use the meeting to offer a significant concession to the Scottish government. He will tell Scottish ministers that the UK government is prepared to transfer the “vast majority” of EU powers over devolved areas to Holyrood after Brexit, while retaining control over a few until joint frameworks are put in place. – The Times (£) David Lidington offers SNP gamut of Brexit powers in hope of breaking deadlock over EU Withdrawal Bill – Telegraph (£) Peers clash during first day of Committee Stage of Withdrawal Bill… A former Tory minister today vowed to “frustrate” the will of the people over Brexit during a debate in the House of Lords over the Government’s EU withdrawal bill, with another unelected peer branding the economic impact assessments a “suicide note”. The outbursts came during the first day of committee stage debate in the House, which will see them go through the Brexit bill line by line. And Viscount Hailsham caused alarm among Brexiteers when he said he would do all he could to “frustrate” Government policy. – Express …as Commons rebels force delay to Customs Bill votes Ministers are to delay Commons votes on the customs union for up to two months amid fears that they could result in defeats that jeopardise Brexit negotiations… Anna Soubry and Ken Clarke, the Remain-supporting Tory MPs, have been inspiring a rebellion to keep Britain in the customs union by tabling amendments to the Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill, also known as the customs bill or trade bill. Brexiteers were planning to launch a rebellion over clause 31 of the trade bill. This would allow the government to establish “a customs union between the UK and the country or territory”. The Commons library said that this clause gives the government power to implement any customs union with the EU. Brexiteers argue that No 10 has ruled out participation of any customs union and therefore the clauses should be removed. – The Times (£) Rising number of workers from Europe head to Britain The number of EU citizens working in the UK rose in the year after the Brexit referendum but the pace of growth is slowing, official figures show. In spite of a feared mass departure, the number of Europeans employed rose to 2.34 million between October and December last year — up 100,000 on the same period a year earlier. More than a million people from the original EU states, such as France and Germany, had jobs and those from Romania and Bulgaria were at a record level. Those from eight east European states, including Poland, fell slightly to less than a million… In a commentary, the ONS suggested that the slowdown in the number of workers from the lower-income EU states and higher net increase in the number of British citizens in work may lead to a rise in average wages. – The Times (£) Bank of America commits to London even as Brexit draws closer Bank of America Corp. is the latest overseas bank to commit its long-term future to the U.K. even as the country prepares for Brexit. The U.S. lender has extended the lease on its London headquarters by 10 years to 2032, according to a spokesman. That’s well beyond the U.K.’s planned departure from the European Union… Speculation that the Brexit vote would prompt financial companies to move large numbers of workers out of London has yet to be realized. Banks including Wells Fargo & Co., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. and Deutsche Bank AG have bought or leased London buildings since the vote. – Reuters Scramble to keep Unilever HQ in London – The Times (£) European Research Area should emerge post-Brexit, scientists say – FT (£) Carney: good Brexit deal will be boost for growth – The Times (£) Matthew Elliott: Leave voters have reason to be optimistic, but there is still work to do There are still important questions needing to be answered as ministers meet at Chequers today, if the UK is to ensure that key opportunities of Brexit are not closed off. In particular, it is crucial that they do not fall into the trap currently being laid by the EU of agreeing to retain full alignment with vast swathes of EU law. We would not only have to obey EU laws as they are now, but would have any future changes to those laws forced upon us, without any say over them whatsoever. This would leave the UK in the position of rule-taker, not rule-maker, and risk the “vassal state” arrangement which leading Brexiteers have warned of. We would remain under the yoke of the EU and the ECJ, not in control of our own laws. As Boris Johnson warned in the first Road to Brexit speech last week, it would be “intolerable and undemocratic” for EU laws and regulations to continue to be imposed on Britain after it leaves the European Union. – Matthew Elliott for The Times (£) Jacob Rees-Mogg: Brexit transition strategy document is a ‘perversion of democracy’ [T]hose of us who support Mrs May must make it clear that imaginary problems cannot be added to her workload. Chief amongst these is the idea that Ireland constitutes an impassable obstacle to a genuine Brexit and any notion that an endless ‘transition’ leading to “BRINO” (Brexit in Name Only) is a solution… One dangerous development, however, has been the manner in which the current Irish government has treated the provisions of the Belfast Agreement with indifference verging on contempt. Central to the agreement is the principle that Northern Ireland remains in the United Kingdom for as long as it wants. Well, our referendum was in the UK, for the UK. Yet Leo Varadkar, the Irish Prime Minister, has argued that because there was a Remain majority in Ulster – as there was in London – the Province should be detached from the rest of the UK, without its consent, in defiance of the Agreement he preaches the merits of so loudly… Returning to the mainland and the Government’s leaked transition document appears to be a poor piece of work. It has been disowned by Ministers as not representing Government policy. Transition must be time limited, the European Union itself has suggested twenty-one months to the end of the multiannual financial framework. It is, therefore, peculiar that the leak reveals Whitehall proposing the exact opposite. – Jacob Rees-Mogg MP for the Telegraph (£) The Good Friday Agreement holds strong, and its principles will guide us through the current impasse – Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney for the Telegraph (£) The EU report which confirms that the Irish Border issue can be resolved with technology – Graham Gudgin for ConservativeHome Shanker Singham: EU’s regulation obsession is protectionist in nature Initially, EU regulation like its competition and state aids rules were useful in moving its member states towards a pro-competitive regulatory system which could be wealth creating. Latterly, more and more EU regulation is prescriptive and anti-competitive in nature. The EU will not grow vibrantly but will continue to destroy wealth for its own citizens and also for the rest of the world. The EU is therefore no longer a force for global liberalisation. We have only to look at REACH – or Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation – style regulation, the General Data Protection Regulation, and the Brussels effect where firms choose the most stringent regulations to comply with for ease. In agriculture, the ferocious interpretation of the precautionary principle has thwarted new technologies and prevented non-EU firms from reaching the EU market, including the UK. This is wealth destructive, and increases prices for consumers. The EU’s approach to data meant that it could not put new services which involve data flow on the table in the Ceta trade deal with Canada, whereas these new services are part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, for example. – Shanker Singham for the Telegraph (£) Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: It is dangerous for our economy to rely on EU goodwill over Brexit Theresa May is damned if she does, and damned if she doesn’t. The clearest gestures of goodwill are turned back against her… She has given up two trump cards – money and defence – in order to clear the political air, without securing any guarantee to our knowledge that this will break the deeper deadlock. Let us acknowledge that this is a legitimate approach to an intractable issue. Sometimes you have to take such risks in high statecraft… But let us also be clear about the implications if it turns out that this strategy is based on wishful thinking. What happens if we reach the EU summit in October only to discover that “Canada plus” is not on offer. Or worse yet, if we discover that even a limited Canada deal comes with onerous conditions – “Canada dry on Norwegian rocks” as the saying goes, brutally outlined in leaked EU documents – that bind Britain into the EU legal order as a perpetual colony? What if euro-MPs vote down the final settlement? What if there is a late ECJ challenge from any number of possible plaintiffs? By then it would be too late to fall back in an orderly fashion to World Trade Organisation terms since that requires at a least a year of preparation. Britain might have to choose between a disastrous cliff-edge or total capitulation. That would surely have shattering effects on British democracy, vastly more important than the relative trivia of this or that trade model. – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard for the Telegraph (£) Tom Cannon: It’s ludicrous of Remainers to pretend voters didn’t know what they were voting for [T]he then government with the backing of the treasury and full government machine, claimed on any medium possible that every family would be ‘£4,300-a-year’ worse off… But past this outlandish claim this campaign made quite clear what was on the table and importantly had a considerable national footprint. Explicitly linking EU membership with the single market while the supporting website, created specifically for the digital campaign, went further and highlighted the role of what it termed not just the customs union but “the EU’s customs union”… On the morning of the 24th June 2016, over 17.4 million people had voted to leave in spite of the campaign being heavily weighted in favour of the status quo and a remain digital ad spend, outside of the official campaigns, that would make many a marketing manager envious. Given the publicity blitz voters had from the Remain side, it’s ludicrous to suggest they didn’t know about the alleged costs of voting for Brexit, those that make this case are treating voters for fools and in their duplicity, are undermining the very basis of democracy. – Tom Cannon for the Telegraph (£) Remain campaigners to tour UK with red bus warning of ‘Brexit cost’ – Sky News Remainers have brought us just what the country needs: a brand new Brexit bus with a misleading number down the side, just a couple of years too late – Tom Peck for the Independent Brexit comment in brief The ERG’s so-called ‘ransom note’ could be a lot worse for May – Katy Balls for the Spectator Rees-Mogg and friends are playing with fire – Iain Martin for The Times (£) We can respect Brexit referendum without the self-sabotage of WTO terms – Antoinette Sandbach MP for The Times (£) How to stop Brexit – Simon Kuper for the FT (£) Martin Schulz, the man who could only disappoint – Ulrike Guerot for Politico Brexit news in brief Economists for Free Trade group forecast 4% Brexit boost to growth – The Times (£) Higher costs “may lead to sporting events shunning Britain after Brexit” – Guardian ‘Frugal four’ band together against Brussels’ plans to boost budget – FT (£) Macron threatens to jail illegal Alps migrants for a year – The Times (£)