“The plan, which was dismissed by Eurosceptics as a “stopgap solution”, will see Cameron insist that the restrictions remain in place for up to seven years while a permanent fix is found. During that time, the government will seek an EU treaty change to enforce a permanent ban or a change in domestic law to prevent British people from claiming until they have been working for four years. The latter would ignite fury at home.” – Sunday Times (£)
> Today: ToryDiary – Mesmerised by migration and benefits? Watch for Cameron’s constitutional EU rabbit
“It is understood some that Eurosceptics have started sounding out senior Labour fixers to see if they could rely on opposition votes. This would be a difficult decision for Jeremy Corbyn, because most of his party are pro-EU and would want the referendum to come at the point at which they have the best chance of victory. But it would give the Labour leader an opportunity to embarrass the Government.” – Independent on Sunday
“He said Europe posed many threats to the UK, from the economic turmoil in the Eurozone to a repeat of the scenes in which gangs of migrants assaulted women in Cologne on New Year’s Eve. It could even be worse, with Jihadists entering Britain among the crowds of refugees in future, he said. In an interview with The Telegraph, Dr Fox warned that the influx of migrants into the EU posed a major threat to Britain’s security.” – Interview, Sunday Telegraph
“I can’t be the only one who is beginning to think that we have been here before: a business and political elite making a passionless case, trading in the currency of fear and seeking late deals to save the day. I am sorry to say it but the EU referendum campaign feels like Scotland all over again. The difference is, this time, the stakes are twice as high…I want better campaigners than me to take the In campaign by the scruff of its neck, breathe life into it and bring home what is at stake for us all.” – Observer
“Shadow secretary of state for international development Diane Abbott is among those who travelled to Dover to join the anti-fascist protest and she addressed the crowd. She told the cheering audience: ‘It’s 2016, Time for those racist rocks to go. Mr Cameron, tear down those cliffs.’” – Mail on Sunday
“There are no black generals in our armed forces and just 4% of chief executives in the FTSE 100 are from ethnic minorities. These examples should shame our nation and jolt us into action.” Cameron has now ordered a law to be drawn up to force universities to release comprehensive data about the gender and ethnic and social background of students who apply for places, the number who are given offers, how many get in and the drop-out rates. “ – Sunday Times
“The Prime Minister and his wife have discussed obtaining a place for Elwen, who turns ten next month, at £18,000-a-year Colet Court Preparatory School…It is understood that the Camerons have not made a final decision about Elwen’s future education. It is normal for couples in such circumstances to apply for a number of schools in both the state and private sector.” – Mail on Sunday
> Yesterday: Peter Ainsworth on Comment – Why blame Oriel for the Rhodes debacle? It was only following Ministers’ lead.
“Operators must offer smart ticketing under conditions that will be written into every rail franchise as they come up for renewal between now and 2022. Passengers will no longer have to juggle multiple tickets or, more importantly, jump through bureaucratic hoops to claim back money for delays, because train firms will know where they are and be able to automatically credit their bank account.” The rail minister, Claire Perry, said the initiative showed the government was putting passengers first. “Through the franchising system . . . we are able to deliver the changes that 21st [century] customers deserve,” she said” – Sunday Times (£)
“Up to 50 MPs are understood to have signed a letter demanding changes to the Government’s proposed settlement with local government, which was published last month. Senior backbencher Graham Stuart, the former chairman of the Education Select Committee, has been named by a number of Tory MPs as the “shop steward” leading the “rural resistance” to the cuts.” – Independent on Sunday
“She said Buckinghamshire county council had warned that it could not “provide the key infrastructure that is required for new schools and additional places”. Other Tory MPs who voiced concerns about looming shortages of places in their areas were Steve Baker (Wycombe) and Kevin Hollinrake (Thirsk and Malton). Nick Gibb, the schools minister, insisted that enough money was being provided to councils to ensure sufficient school places. The Local Government Association believes that local councils are “uniquely situated” to manage demand.” – Observer
“It was widely believed that Mr Corbyn would be forced to offer his MPs a free vote, but Ms Thornberry, who is leading the review, is thought to have identified a way to contain any rebellion. Labour could recommend that its MPs refuse to vote at all because the Government will not be providing full details of the renewal programme. This would allow Ms Thornberry to argue that Labour cannot be certain of exactly what MPs are approving, which would be unfair to even those who support Trident. “ – Independent on Sunday
“At least six of Britain’s 10 biggest multinationals — including Shell, British American Tobacco (BAT) and Lloyds Banking Group — paid no UK corporation tax in 2014 despite combined global profits of more than £30bn. The disclosure comes as the Tories are embroiled in a row over a deal with Google that allowed it to pay just £130m in corporation tax since 2005.” – Sunday Times (£)
> Yesterday: ToryDiary – Fairness requires the abolition of Corporation Tax