What the papers say: Ministers must publish their Brexit impact papers

‘It is now blindingly obvious’, says the Sun, ‘that the EU is making impossible demands.’ Just consider how Brussels is pointing the finger at Britain for the lack of progress in Brexit talks. ‘Anyone can see’ that this standstill is more to do with the EU wanting a ‘monstrous’ payment up front without ‘anything firm in return’, argues the paper – and ‘David Davis would be out of his mind to buckle’. It’s clear, too, that the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, ‘must regret the untenable position ­Germany and France have put him in’. It’s true that the deadlock could break by next week and Barnier and Britain will finally be allowed to talk trade. But if Merkel and Macron continue to hold things up, Britain will ‘have little option’ but to seek an alternative to the current intransigence. ‘We should schedule no further talks without a solid commitment to working out a transition and a free trade deal’, says the Sun.