Sunday newspaper round-up: Brexit, British Airways, Tesco

Michael Gove signalled today that the prime minister was prepared to ignore legislation to block no-deal as the government set out its stall ahead of a week of Commons clashes.

The cabinet minister in charge of no-deal planning suggested that existing legislation could override any attempts by MPs to force another delay to Britain’s exit. - The Sunday Times

Ministers have been forced to abandon plans to scrap EU free movement rules at midnight on October 31 amid fears the government will be sued, it was claimed today.

Home Secretary Priti Patel made clear last month that she wanted the arrangements - regarded as one of the main drivers of the 2016 Brexit referendum result - to end immediately after the UK leaves the bloc.

However, proposals to ditch the rules in one swoop have apparently been shelved after lawyers hired by the Home Office warned it could cause chaos. - Mail on Sunday

Boris Johnson has delivered an ultimatum to Philip Hammond and other rebel Tory MPs, warning they would be expelled from the party if they join forces with Jeremy Corbyn to try to halt a no-deal Brexit this week.

In a plan agreed by a dozen whips and Mr Johnson at a lunch in Chequers, any Tory MP who defies Number 10 will lose the party whip and be banned from standing in the next general election. - The Sunday Telegraph

Senior politicians, a former cabinet secretary and an ex-head of the home civil service have called for a top-level inquiry into how Boris Johnson’s closest aide, Dominic Cummings, was able to sack an adviser to Sajid Javid, the chancellor of the exchequer, without Javid’s knowledge and then order an armed police officer to escort her out of Downing Street in front of staff.

A former senior Metropolitan police officer, former Chief Superintendent Dal Babu, also said the episode should be subject to urgent twin investigations by the cabinet secretary, Mark Sedwill, and Scotland Yard. - The Observer

British Airways is preparing to crack down on perks enjoyed by striking pilots as it became clear that the majority of the airline’s flights are likely to be cancelled during a walkout next week.

The carrier is considering removing travel allowances from pilots who take part in the strike amid fears that it will cost the airline up to £40 million a day.

All BA staff with more than six months’ service can buy “standby” tickets for themselves and up to three family members for 10 per cent of the full fare plus airport taxes. After five years they are also eligible for an annual business class flight with their family to any worldwide destination, for which they only pay airport taxes. - The Sunday Times

Tesco is to launch the first “affordable” ethical chicken after being accused of selling birds that spend their final days in agony.

The chicken will come from slower-growing breeds that do not suffer the welfare problems of standard intensively farmed birds, which grow so fast they can collapse under their own weight. - The Sunday Times