Brexit blame game and Max’s Law praise

As many of Monday’s papers discuss the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, the Financial Times leads with a warning from Philip Hammond to senior City figures, saying they should prepare for a French-led attempt by the EU to bind Britain’s financial services sector in red tape after its leaves the bloc.

The paper says it has seen a note written by a participant of a private meeting the Chancellor had with City leaders to discuss the government’s Chequers Brexit strategy.

Mr Hammond is said to have predicted that the EU would initially hold Britain close, to minimise disruption, but that, over time, Brussels would pass regulation that would hobble the City.

The Chancellor suggested France was interested in “politically motivated rule changes” because of the desire in Paris to seize business from London.

It also carries alarming statistics showing a big rise in the number of young people of both sexes admitted for overdosing with over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

One senior psychiatrist tells the paper there are a range of pressures facing young people – including social media and school work.

The paper’s lead editorial says the problem is not the government’s alone to solve – tech firms and parents must play their part – but young lives depend on ministers acting with more urgency.

Two half-brothers of the late al-Qaeda leader have told the paper that Hamza bin Laden has married the daughter of Mohamed Atta, the lead hijacker during the attacks in 2001.

They also believe Hamza bin Laden has taken a senior position within al-Qaeda and is aiming to avenge the death of his father, who was shot dead by US special forces in Pakistan seven years ago.

Boris Johnson has weighed into the debate about full-face veils worn by some Muslim women.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, the former foreign secretary says he was a bit surprised to see the liberty-loving Danes join France, Austria, Germany and Belgium in banning the niqab and burka.

On Saturday, the first fine for violating Denmark’s new law banning face coverings in public was imposed on a woman wearing a niqab.

Mr Johnson writes that while he opposes a total ban – because it fans the flames of grievance – he thinks it is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around “looking like letter boxes”.

It says Richard Branson’s company, and its subsidiaries, now hold at least 400 contracts across the public sector, ranging from healthcare in prisons to school immunisation programmes.

The union Unison complains that taxpayers’ money is being wasted on dangerous experiments in privatisation.

But Virgin Care tells the paper it is not making a profit and its focus is on improving patient and employee satisfaction – and saving the NHS and local authorities millions.

The discovery of a boa constrictor devouring a pigeon on a street in east London on Saturday was the last thing shoppers expected to see.

Hawks and loud bangs have been tried – and failed – to keep pigeons in London at bay, but no-one thought of using snakes.

Then again, it reflects, Londoners might prefer sticking with the pigeons.