• Legal fight to abandon Brexit – The hearing in relation to whether the UK can abandon moves to leave the EU without the consent of other member states is expected to last one day, with Lord Boyd due to give his ruling in a civil court in Edinburgh. Article 50 of the European treaty has been invoked by the UK government to trigger withdrawal from the EU but that Article is silent on whether the member state that has triggered it unilaterally can also cancel it unilaterally. UK ministers and the European Commission have both indicated they believe that withdrawing an Article 50 application requires the consent of all 27 other EU member states. Other EU legal experts say that is wrong, but only the Court of Justice can offer a definitive and binding decision. (The Guardian)
  • EU talks with Australia and New Zealand – The EU has leapt ahead of the UK in the pursuit of free trade deals with Australia and New Zealand after member states gave the green light for talks to start within weeks. With Theresa May insistent that leaving the EU will involve exiting the customs union and the bloc’s external commercial policy, the announcement from Brussels opens up the possibility that the EU could enjoy better terms with the two Commonwealth nations after Brexit than the UK will. The UK will not be able to start its negotiations over future trade with New Zealand and Australia until 30 March 2019. (The Guardian)
  • DfT unveils plan to avoid post-Brexit chaos on roads to Channel – The Department for Transport has published a plan to keep traffic moving on motorways through Kent in the event of severe disruption at Channel ports after Brexit. Under the new plan, called Operation Brock, the entire coastbound M20 between junctions eight and nine, a 13-mile stretch between Maidstone and Ashford, would be used to hold HGVs. Logistics experts have long warned that any delay in customs procedures at Channel ports after Brexit could cause severe gridlock, putting ministers under pressure to come up with fresh contingency plans. (The FT)