Wednesday newspaper round-up: Second referendum, Boris Johnson, Federal Reserve
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Jeremy Corbyn will back a move today for Labour to change its Brexit policy and support a second referendum in all circumstances. The shadow cabinet is due to discuss the plan to make Labour’s stance decisively pro-Remain. A paper drawn up by Andrew Fisher, Mr Corbyn’s head of policy, recommends that Labour support a second referendum on any deal negotiated with Brussels. A senior Labour source confirmed that Mr Corbyn was endorsing the shift in policy, adding: “It is a moment.” - The Times
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Boris Johnson softened his Brexit stance and backed away from tax cuts for high earners as he faced his first sustained scrutiny of the Tory leadership race. The frontrunner failed to guarantee that he would leave the European Union on October 31 and downgraded his tax plans to an “ambition”. Mr Johnson also refused to say that he would stop the Heathrow expansion as he and the four other remaining candidates took part in a BBC debate last night. - The Times
The re-election of Donald Trump as president for a further four years threatens to subvert America's institutional structure and reduce the country to a third world state, a revered veteran of the US Federal Reserve has warned. Stanley Fischer, the Fed’s former vice-chairman, said Mr Trump’s constant attacks on the central bank break a century-long taboo in American political culture and may become unstoppable if he wins a second term. “It will destroy the independence of the Fed,” he said. - The Daily Telegraph
An interest rate rise this week would be premature, given the uncertain state of British politics at the moment, the majority of The Times' shadow monetary policy committee has said. The panel of former Bank of England officials, ex-mandarins and economists decided that signs of economic weakness combined with the political backdrop meant that it was best to hold rates at 0.75% and to leave quantitative easing unchanged at £435bn. - The Times
Goals Soccer Centres, the struggling five-a-side football pitch operator backed by the retail billionaire Mike Ashley, has appointed advisers to look for a possible buyer, as discussions continue with tax authorities over an unpaid VAT bill. In a statement on Tuesday, Goals said it was engaging Deloitte to work alongside its current advisers and lenders in assessing its future corporate options. Last month the company appointed forensic accountants to examine its finances, including how it recognised revenues, after it revealed it had misdeclared its VAT bill over several years, leaving it with a potential £12m liability. - The Guardian
Millions of BT TV and Sport customers face price hikes of up to £48 a year, Money Mail can reveal. Price changes will vary between £1 and £4 a month, depending on the package, or £12 and £48 a year. Customers with the Classic Essential, Entertainment, Entertainment Plus and Sport Starter deals will pay an extra £1 a month, with an increase of £2 per month for those with the Entertainment Starter. - The Daily Mail
That's the moniker given to the British firm's powerful new £1.5m 200mph-plus hybrid hypercar, which Mail Online and This is Money can exclusively reveal is set to be one of a trio of Aston Martins to appear in the latest 007 movie now in production starring Daniel Craig as James Bond. The starring role of the new Valhalla – given a licence to thrill alongside two other historic Aston Martin classics – is set to be confirmed later this week following the official naming today of the supercar which until now has been codenamed AM-RB 003. - The Daily Mail