Australia wants ‘very strong’ free trade agreement with UK post Brexit Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said he wants to negotiate a “very strong” free trade agreement with the UK after it leaves the European Union. Speaking at the G20 Summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou on Monday, Mr Turnbull said Britain’s decision to leave the EU was a “very momentous and historic choice” and Australia is “determined” to provide the UK with “all of the support and assistance that we can”. – ITV News “Asked if the deal could be concluded while he is prime minister or in this term of parliament, which has a maximum life-span of two years and nine months, he replied: “Absolutely.” Turnbull said that Australia was “enthusiastic and supportive – we are providing Britain with as much assistance and at a technical level. Prime minister May and I are very committed to having an early free trade agreement put in place so that when Britain leaves the EU we have very open markets between Australia and Britain.” – The Guardian Outgoing President Obama again pours cold water on an early UK-US trade deal… “Grumpy Barack Obama insisted Britain is still at “the back of the queue” for a trade deal with the US – and relations could even unravel further if Brexit is bungled. Challenged on his remarks during the EU referendum campaign, the US President said he thought Brits were wrong to back Brexit.” – The Sun …but is dismissed by Tory eurosceptics “Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said of Mr Obama’s comments: ‘Who cares what he says? He’s going. Bye bye.’ Jacob Rees-Mogg, another Eurosceptic Tory MP, added: ‘Fortunately, he is yesterday’s man and will no longer be President early next year.’.” – Daily Mail Immigration points system will not work, says May… “Theresa May ruled out a points-based system for EU migrants as she left open the possibility that they may have preferential rights to live and work in Britain after Brexit. The prime minister rejected the idea pushed by five cabinet members — Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, Priti Patel, Chris Grayling and Andrea Leadsom — saying that their plan was unworkable.” – The Times (£) “A lot of people talk about a points based system always being the answer in immigration.There is no silver bullet that is the answer in terms of dealing with immigration. Across the board, you have to look at the whole range of issues not just how you win control for rules you have for people coming in.” -Theresa May quoted in the Daily Express More Polish immigrants are welcome to come to Britain, says Boris – The Independent …as she maintains that the UK economy is proving doubters wrong after the Brexit vote “Theresa May hailed the strength of the British economy yesterday amid signs that the country will avoid recession after the Brexit vote. The Prime Minister warned of ‘difficult times ahead’ but insisted that the economy has performed better than many expected since the referendum. We have had some good figures and better figures than some had predicted would be the case,’ she said.” – Daily Mail David Davis to address Commons this afternoon on Brexit plans… “Brexit minister David Davis is to set out more detail on the Government’s plans for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union in a statement in parliament… In a statement ahead of his address to parliament, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union said: “This is an historic and positive moment for our nation. Brexit isn’t about making the best of a bad job. It is about seizing the huge and exciting opportunities that will flow from a new place for Britain in the world. There will be new freedoms, new opportunities, new horizons for this great country.” – ITV News …as MPs prepare to debate calls for a second EU referendum “MPs are to debate a public petition calling for a re-run of the EU referendum which has attracted more than four million signatures. The petition calls for June’s Leave vote to be restaged since neither side won more than 60% of the vote in the poll and turnout was below 75%… It will be debated in Westminster Hall, MPs secondary debating chamber, on the day MPs return from their summer recess after being proposed by the SNP’s Ian Blackford.” – BBC Majority of British people positive about future following Brexit vote, suggests poll for BBC Radio 5 live “An opinion poll for BBC Radio 5 live has suggested more than six out of ten (62%) adults in the UK are positive about Britain’s future following the referendum result.” – BBC Latest post-Brexit data may dispel doom and gloom – The Guardian Sacked minister demands vote by MPs on Brexit deal “Parliament must be given the final say on Britain’s deal to leave the European Union, a former cabinet minister will tell Theresa May today. Nicky Morgan, who was sacked as education secretary by the prime minister when she took office, says that voters expect their MPs to be involved in the Brexit process.” – The Times (£) “Of course what would be even better is a time machine to transport us back to before June 23 so the Remain campaign could run a relentlessly positive campaign which sets out the benefits of collaboration with other EU member states” – Nicky Morgan’s article on The Times (£) Red Box website Corbyn economics guru: Britain can thrive outside EU “Britain is easily capable of thriving outside the European Union, one of the world’s leading economists has insisted in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. “There’s no reason why not”, says Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel prize winning economist and something of an economic guru to the political left” – Daily Telegraph Emma Reynolds MP: Labour must accept the referendum result or risk irrelevance “We should accept the result of the referendum and focus on getting the best deal for our constituents. Labour has not yet found its voice on Brexit. We are at risk of becoming worryingly irrelevant. We need much stronger leadership.” – Leading Labour Europhile Emma Reynolds MP in the Express and Star Lord Ashcroft: This is what Britain really wants from Brexit, Mrs May “As an independent country outside the EU, they argue, it goes without saying that we should be able to say who can and who cannot enter, and under what conditions – this principle being much more important to most than the numbers involved… In a nutshell: yes to full control of immigration, yes to unfettered trade, and no to any further contributions to the EU budget.” – Daily Telegraph Nadhim Zahawi MP: Apple’s tax and TTIP’s collapse both show why Britain was right to back Brexit “During the referendum, we were often told that remaining in the European Union was necessary to give us negotiating clout, and sign up to free trade deals. If the European Union did perform this role even close to adequately, and forged ahead with free trade deals around the world, then that would be brilliant. Unfortunately, the European record on trade has shown that there is no hope of that.” – Nadhim Zahawi MP on ConservativeHome Jeffrey Mountevans: The City must build on its relationship with China to remain the world’s financial centre “Over the coming years, we in the City will look to build upon our already solid relationship with China. I firmly believe that the UK will remain China’s number one Western partner and its gateway to Europe. We will continue to support Chinese business expansion and tighter links between our financial services firms. The closer we work with our Chinese friends and partners, the greater prosperity our countries will share – regardless of the precise details of Brexit.” – Lord Mayor of London Jeffrey Mountevans in City A.M. John Hulsman and Lee Rotherham: Britain would have left the EU even if it had voted Remain “The reality is that, for EU institutions, self-interested treat abuse, power grabs, and Walter Mitty ambitions can no more be avoided than the scooping fingers of a three year old in a jam jar. The only way to make the jam safe is to put it out of reach, and that means taking absolutely all the social, pan-governmental and fiscal competences out of the trade treaties. That guarantee in turn can only be achieved by Brexit.” – John Hulsman and Lee Rotherham in City A.M. Mary Dejevsky: Don’t panic – Brexit might just bring the UK closer to Europe – The Guardian The European Arrest Warrant empowers Romania’s tyrants and should be junked – Damian Phillips on ConservativeHome News in brief Japan calls for ‘soft’ Brexit – FT (£) Poland wants to play ‘intermediary’ for Brexit talks, says its deputy PM – The Guardian Merkel’s CDU beaten into third place by AfD in her Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania backyard – BBC And finally…Man charged over theft of Eddie Izzard’s pink beret at rally “A man has been charged with theft after comedian Eddie Izzard’s pink beret was snatched from his head during a pro-European Union march in London. The entertainer chased after the alleged thief in his high heels after his beret was snatched during the March for Europe demonstration in Whitehall on Saturday, September 4.” – Daily Mail