Today’s political headlines are still dominated by Brexit and are likely to remain that way, at least for the next 48 hours. The Government is hoping to agree the deal within the next two days – meanwhile, Boris Johnson has called for Cabinet mutiny and pro-EU MPs are preparing letters of no confidence in Theresa May.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Government hoping for a Brexit deal in the next 48 hours<\/span> Johnson to join MPs rebelling over gambling machine stake cut delay<\/span> Johnson calls for Cabinet \u2018mutiny\u2019 over Brexit<\/span> Pro-EU MPs prepare letters of no confidence in May<\/span> Retailers to pay more for recycling in new strategy<\/span> Truss excluded from Budget meetings<\/span> Hunt to confront Saudi Crown Prince<\/span> May open to \u2018different\u2019 relationship with Russia<\/span>
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that the Government is hoping to agree a Brexit deal with the EU in the next 48 hours, with outstanding issues including fishing rights in the backstop and the review mechanism to leave it. Over the weekend, Andrea Leadsom said the UK must be able \u2018to decide to leave\u2019 the backstop rather than being \u2018held against its will\u2019 by the EU. The\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0adds<\/a>\u00a0that the EU is trying to get the UK to agree to the inclusion of detailed \u2018level playing field\u2019 measures in the backstop, including environmental targets and state aid rules to be overseen by the European Court of Justice.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0The Sun<\/em>, Boris Johnson is to lead a cross-party rebellion against delays to implementing a reduction to the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals. An amendment, backed by 60 MPs, may be tabled by Iain Duncan Smith and Carolyn Harris\u00a0 today.\u00a0The Guardian\u00a0<\/em>adds<\/a>\u00a0that the Government\u2019s decision to delay the policy was based on a report commissioned by the Association of British Bookmakers, which the company Paddy Power Betfair described as \u2018unrealistic\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Writing<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0The Daily Telegraph<\/em>, Boris Johnson says that Theresa May is \u2018on the verge of total surrender\u2019 to the EU, describing her Brexit plans as \u2018shameful\u2019. He adds that the Cabinet \u2018ought\u2019 to mutiny over the proposals, but that it would make little difference as the Government\u2019s ambition \u2018is to remain in captivity\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Sun<\/em>\u00a0asserts<\/a>\u00a0that pro-EU Conservative MPs are preparing letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister. One told the paper that \u2018we are now staring into the abyss\u2019 and another described Theresa May as \u2018the problem\u2019. One of the MPs suggested that David Davis might be persuaded to back a short-term Norway-style Brexit if given May\u2019s job.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>In an\u00a0exclusive<\/a>,\u00a0The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0says that retailers and major drinks brands face a large increase in the amount they pay towards recycling used packaging, with contributions increasing from around \u00a370m a year to between \u00a3500m and \u00a31bn. The proposal forms part of the Government\u2019s waste strategy, which will be published later this month.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that Liz Truss, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was excluded from meetings before the Budget owing to tensions between her and the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, who was apparently annoyed by her attendance at Andrea Leadsom\u2019s Brexiteer \u2018pizza club\u2019 meetings.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Jeremy Hunt will today become the first minister to meet the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Hunt will use the opportunity to \u2018confront\u2019 Mohammed bin Salman, express his \u2018horror and outrage\u2019 and demand that the country co-operates with the Turkish investigation into the death.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May will use her address at the Lord Mayor\u2019s banquet today to say that the UK is open to a \u2018different\u2019 relationship with Russia, adding that the country is \u2018ready to respond in kind\u2019 if Russia were to become more open to international co-operation.<\/p>\n