• Brexit border plan ‘must be longer-term’ says Tony Lloyd: The UK shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, Tony Lloyd, said the government must take a longer-term approach in its Brexit customs proposals to avoid a hard Irish border. He commented that the newly agreed proposal on the “backstop” that would see the UK match EU tariffs after 2020 in the event of no deal on the cabinet’s preferred customs arrangements was only a temporary continuation, and that the business sector would want more certainty on the arrangement. (BBC)
  • PM set to nominate 10 Tory peers after string of Brexit defeats: The UK Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to approve the creation of about 10 Tory peers and hand at least one to Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist party in an attempt to improve her weak position in the House of Lords, which has already voted 15 times against her government over Brexit. The elevations, which are expected to be announced in the coming days in Westminster, were immediately criticised by high profile remain Labour peer Lord Adonis as a desperate attempt by the prime minister to enlist people to boost her fragile position in the unelected upper house. (The Guardian / Sky News)
  • EU transport official sounds warning on post-Brexit flights: Henrik Hololei, the director general for mobility and transport at the European Commission, said the effects on the aviation industry could be significant after 29 March 2019, when Britain is set to leave the EU. Hololei said that before any discussions got underway on aviation specifically, and any other sector for that matter, the general framework of Britain’s departure from the bloc had to be agreed first. Airlines and airports have repeatedly called for a new deal between Britain and the rest of the EU to slot in to replace the open skies set-up. The industry has wanted this secured in good time for Brexit, citing the very long lead times that airlines have on selling tickets and the need for certainty as a result. (City A.M. / Reuters)