Today’s political headlines include the publication of the Immigration White Paper, dropping manifesto promises to free up resources for no-deal Brexit and Gauke comparing a managed no-deal Brexit to a unicorn that needs to be slaughtered.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Immigration White Paper to be published<\/span> Manifesto pledges dropped to free up resources for no-deal Brexit<\/span> Gauke compares \u2018managed\u2019 no-deal Brexit to a unicorn<\/span> Business groups warn of no-deal impact<\/span> 3,500 troops put on standby for no-deal Brexit<\/span> Labour MPs call for special party conference on Brexit<\/span> Brexiteers to give May a \u2018period of tranquillity\u2019<\/span> UK to become seventh biggest economy after Brexit<\/span>
\n<\/strong>As the BBC\u00a0reports<\/a>, the Government is today publishing its Immigration White Paper, setting out a skills-based immigration system to be phased in from 2021. Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, says that the policy will deliver \u2018control over our borders\u2019 but, following concern from cabinet members over its impact, there will be further consultation on plans to extend the \u00a330,000 minimum salary threshold to all skilled migrants.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington is identifying manifesto promises that can be dropped in order to free up resources for a no-deal Brexit, with social care reforms likely to be targeted. Businesses are being instructed to begin their own contingency plans, with households to be given their own instructions in the weeks to come. A further \u00a32bn for no-deal preparations has been awarded by the Chancellor Philip Hammond.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0has\u00a0details<\/a>\u00a0of yesterday\u2019s Cabinet meeting, at which Justice Secretary David Gauke told his fellow ministers that the idea of a \u2018managed\u2019 no-deal Brexit was a \u2018unicorn that needs to be slaughtered\u2019 and was \u2018not a viable option\u2019. However, the paper claims that Gauke was in a minority of Cabinet members, and a consensus was reached that no-deal Brexit plans will now be implemented \u2018in full\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian\u00a0<\/em>reports<\/a>\u00a0that five leading business organisations have joined forces to warn of the dangers of a no-deal Brexit. They warned that \u2018the responsibility to find a way forward now rests directly with 650 MPs and that \u2018everyone must remember that businesses and communities need time to adapt to future changes\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times\u00a0<\/em>reports<\/a>\u00a0that the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is putting 3,500 military personnel on standby in case of a no-deal Brexit. They will include engineers, mechanics and drivers, and will be available \u2018to support any government department on any contingencies they need\u2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian\u00a0<\/em>says<\/a>\u00a0that anti-Brexit Labour MPs and campaigners are calling on Jeremy Corbyn to call a special party conference on Brexit, which would consult members on the party\u2019s strategy and adopt a policy supporting a second referendum. Labour MP Dr Paul Williams warned that \u2018time is running out\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>In an\u00a0exclusive<\/a>,\u00a0The Sun\u00a0<\/em>claims that Brexiteer Conservative MPs are to give Theresa May a \u2018period of tranquility\u2019 and offer her public support because they believe that the UK is now bound for what they call a \u2018clean Brexit\u2019. Iain Duncan Smith told the paper that he believed that the Prime Minister was \u2018moving in the right direction\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Daily Mail\u00a0<\/em>carries details<\/a>\u00a0of new analysis by PwC which warns that the UK may go from being the world\u2019s fifth-largest economy to the world\u2019s seventh-largest next year after Brexit, even assuming that a no-deal scenario is avoided. The change will be driven by slower growth in the UK than in France and India.<\/p>\n