Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May clash over post-Brexit Britain Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have set out competing visions of what they want for Britain after it has left the EU, with a week to go until polling day. Mrs May said she wanted a “stronger, fairer and even more prosperous” country – and Mr Corbyn was “simply not up to the job” of delivering it. The Labour leader claimed she would create a “low-wage, offshore tax haven” and a “toxic” mood in Brexit talks. The Lib Dems said the PM’s “hard Brexit” plan would harm the economy. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said her party could have a role in preventing what she called an “extreme form of Brexit” if Mrs May won power, by pressing for continued access to the EU single market. Conservative leader Mrs May used a high-profile speech to set out her vision of European Union withdrawal as part of a “great national mission” to build a “stronger, fairer and more prosperous Britain”. – BBC Theresa May puts `promise of Brexit´ at heart of pitch to voters – PA Theresa May: Britain can thrive when it is free from the ‘shackles’ of Brussels – The i A big Conservative majority would give Britain upper hand in Brexit, says Centre for Policy Studies – Express May and Corbyn clash over Brexit plans with UK vote a week away – Daily Mail May – “I have the determination, and I have the plan” to deliver a successful Brexit” – ConservativeHome Theresa May sets out upbeat picture of post-Brexit Britain – Guardian Jeremy Corbyn: Theresa May´s Brexit approach risks `jobs meltdown´ across UK – Daily Mail Little Miss Sunshine shakes off the gloom to bat for Brexitshire – Patrick Kidd for The Times (£) May gives herself five years to hit party’s target on migration… Theresa May signalled yesterday that she plans to cut immigration to the tens of thousands by 2022. The prime minister indicated a timescale for meeting the controversial target for the first time during a campaign tour of Labour-held seats in the north and Midlands. Asked whether she agreed with a junior minister’s claim that net annual immigration would be cut to below 100,000 by the end of the next parliament, the prime minister replied: “That’s what we’re working for.” She added: “We’re working to bring immigration down to the tens of thousands. But having been home secretary for six years, this isn’t something that you can just produce the magic bullet that suddenly does everything. What you have to do is keep working at it.” – The Times (£) Theresa May aims to hit Tory migration target by end of next parliament – Guardian …but Davis says Tories ‘can’t promise’ to hit target within five years… Yesterday, Theresa May teetered perilously close to making it a commitment again, agreeing with policing minister Brandon Lewis that it should happen “over the course of the next parliament”. “That’s what we’re working for,” May confirmed. But on BBC Question Time hours later, the Brexit secretary David Davis wasn’t so sure: That wasn’t actually in the manifesto, it was ‘we will bring it down’, we didn’t say, we didn’t put a date … [It’s] the aim, yes, but we can’t promise within five years, that’s the point. Five years is a long time in politics, especially when May is, she told us yesterday, “just focused on polling day”. (You thought she was just focused on Brexit negotiations? That was the day before yesterday.) – Guardian …as Jeremy Corbyn is found to have branded an illegal immigrant clamp down ‘a racist attack’ Jeremy Corbyn branded a popular clamp down on illegal immigrants as “a racist attack”, The Sun can reveal. The hard left Labour leader’s incendiary remarks were made about a bid to take away benefits from new arrivals without residency rights. Instead, the veteran Socialist called for Britain to “stand in solidarity” with people who make it to the UK without passports or ID cards by giving them the taxpayer handouts. Made just two years before he was elected Labour leader, the surfacing of Mr Corbyn’s extraordinary attack – in a video obtained by The Sun – will reignite a furious debate over his open-door immigration vision. It came during a diatribe by the veteran Socialist on fellow Labour MPs who backed a clampdown in an address to an anti-capitalism rally in 2013.’ – The Sun Keir Starmer tells Owen Jones: ‘Brexit is an opportunity for sensible immigration rules’ – Guardian Jeremy Corbyn vows to meet Merkel ‘straight away’ if elected PM… Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to fly to Berlin to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel “straight away” to negotiate Brexit if he wins the General Election. The Labour leader was asked by Sky News how he would deal with Brexit negotiations if he becomes Prime Minister next Friday, and what he would say to Mrs Merkel in particular. “Ich bin ein Corbyn” joked the Labour leader in reply at his Brexit speech in Basildon in Essex. “I’d go over there straight away, discuss with her what mandate we’ve got, what determination we have and what relationship we want with Europe in the future.” – Sky News …but welcomes Brexit talks delay to get Labour up to speed Jeremy Corbyn has welcomed indications that the start of Brexit negotiations could be briefly delayed to give a Labour government more time to prepare for negotiations. He was speaking after the European Commission indicated that it was flexible – whoever becomes Prime Minister – over its preferred start date for talks of 19 June. The Labour leader said: “We’re ready to get on with it as quickly as possible. If there’s a suggestion that they would offer more time to get prepared, it’s a very nice suggestion. “It shows that they are willing to co-operate with us far better than the current government’s process of… threatening them.” – The i May’s rivals are short on detail about the big Euro questions – The Times (£) Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit plan could force Britain to stay in the EU past 2019 Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit plan could force Britain to stay in the EU beyond 2019, Tories warned last night after the Labour leader said he’d never walk away without a deal. The leftie said no deal with Brussels was the worst possible outcome as he unveiled his three-strong Brexit negotiating team including White Van hater Emily Thornberry. He claimed Theresa May’s pledge to deliver Brexit even if it means leaving without a new free trade agreement would cause a “jobs meltdown”. Mr Corbyn said: “Theresa May says no deal is better than a bad deal. Let’s be clear: ‘No deal’ is in fact a bad deal. “It is the worst of all deals, because it would leave us with World Trade Organisation tariffs and restrictions instead of the access to European markets we need.” – The Sun Boris Johnson accuses Labour of ‘bottling’ Brexit and wanting to keep Britain in the EU – The Sun Threats of a “no deal” Brexit are campaign rhetoric, Oettinger says – Daily Mail May warns Corbyn would halt ‘national mission’ of Brexit – Daily Mail > WATCH on BrexitCentral’s YouTube Channel: Corbyn: Labour Party would not accept “no deal’ Theresa May says she’ll defend the City as she warns EU that nowhere else can do what it does Theresa May’s brand of conservatism doesn’t include a natural affection for global financial institutions. In almost every sense, she’s more Maidenhead than Moorgate. And yet surprisingly, she has a stronger connection to the City than any Prime Minister since John Major, having spent 20 years in and around the Square Mile first with the Bank of England and then the Association for Payment Clearing Services, now the UK Payments Administration. This may not have been at the sharp end of City deal-making, but it’s clear that she enjoyed it. “The City is an incredibly dynamic place to work,” she tells me, adding: “It’s a real go-getting, can-do place.” – City A.M. Theresa May pledges to work with Square Mile to forge good deal post-Brexit – Telegraph London’s Brexit apocalypse is nowhere in sight – Bloomberg Boris Johnson insists Britain can claim back £350m a week from the EU for the NHS in fiery Sun debate Boris Johnson last night insisted that Britain CAN save as much as £350 million a week from the EU thanks to Brexit. He told a debate audience that the Tories would “take back control of huge sums” by striking a good deal with Brussels. And he defended the notorious claim that we pay in £350 million every week, denying the suggestion that the figure is mythical. Mr Johnson appeared at a Sun debate on talkRadio alongside Labour’s Emily Thornberry, Lib Dem Vince Cable and Patrick O’Flynn of Ukip. Talking about the savings Britain can make, the Foreign Secretary said: “How much is it a week that we can take back control of? It is about £350 million a week. – The Sun Boris Johnson: Brexit and £350m a week – BBC Tim Farron loses cool as Andrew Neil attacks over second referendum Tim Farron was left squirming today when Andrew Neil grilled him over a second Brexit referendum and terror laws in a very awkward BBC showdown. The pair came to blows as the veteran presenter quizzed the Lib Dem boss over his plans to hold a second vote on Brexit negotiations. Mr Farron signalled he would campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union as he claimed Theresa May is unlikely to be able to get as good a deal with the bloc as Britain currently enjoys as a member state. – Express No better EU deal than being a full member – Tim Farron – BBC > WATCH on BrexitCentral’s YouTube Channel: Andrew Neil attacks Farron over Second Referendum Calls for Brexit special status an attempt to create united Ireland through back door, says UUP Calls for special status for Northern Ireland post-Brexit are an attempt to create a “united Ireland by the back door”, Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann has said. Mr Swann also dismissed Sinn Féin demands for an Irish border poll as “nonsense”. Speaking at the launch of the UUP’s manifesto in Templepatrick, Mr Swann said that if Northern Ireland was granted special designated status after its withdrawal from the EU, it would lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom. Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance parties have been calling for special status for the region. However, Mr Swann said special status “brings all sorts of connotations that leaves us outside the UK”. “It sets us adrift to what it means to be part of the union,” he added. – Irish News UUP chief hits back at Brexit special status calls – Express Professor urges Irish MPs to quit Brussels. – Express Speculation that Gummer is being lined up for Brexit secretary in victory reshuffle Ben Gummer is being lined up as the new Brexit secretary in a post-election reshuffle, with David Davis promoted to foreign secretary. Theresa May’s key calculation as she mulls over possible changes is whether Boris Johnson can be moved, according to senior Tories. The option of placing Mr Gummer in charge of the Brexit department is being canvassed by No 10, Whitehall sources have confirmed. Although he is not yet a cabinet minister, the Tory candidate for Ipswich and son of Lord Deben, who as John Selwyn Gummer was environment secretary, is highly rated by the prime minister. Ben Gummer already sits on the Brexit committee as part of his work ensuring that No 10’s priorities are being implemented across government departments. “The thinking is that Ben is the brightest she’s got and Brexit is the biggest issue, so why wouldn’t you put him in there?” a senior Tory said. – The Times (£) EU plots to scrap budget rebates to Brussels’ contributors The European Union’s head of budget has called for the bloc to scrap all member state rebates in a move which would see countries paying higher fees into the bloc receive nothing in return. Gunther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, has recommended outlawing any discount on membership fees for member states just months after Britain voted to unshackle itself from the beleaguered bloc. The plans are set to refuel speculation EU chiefs were preparing to raid Britain for more cash if it voted to remain in the Brussels club. – Express Eurocrat says public don’t need to be consulted on more EU integration A top eurocrat has insisted that ordinary voters will not have to be consulted on radical plans to deepen integration between EU member states which could ultimately lead to the creation of a superstate. French official Pierre Moscovici told reporters he had “never been keen on referendums” and suggested wide-ranging plans to tie the eurozone states ever closer together could be carried out without holding any. His remarks came at a press conference unveiling the bloc’s highly anticipated proposals to reform the struggling single currency area, which include ambitious moves such as creating a centralised EU finance ministry. – Express Brexit campaign boss makes City move: Shore Capital appoints Vote Leave’s Matthew Elliott as senior political adviser City stockbroker Shore Capital and BlackRock, the world’s largest fund manager, are likely to receive somewhat varying takes on what Brexit means for business from their different political advisers. While BlackRock took on former chancellor George Osborne as adviser on the global economy earlier this year, City A.M. today reveals that Shore has appointed Matthew Elliott as senior political adviser for its capital markets business. Last year’s Brexit vote marked a crushing defeat for Osborne, who campaigned strongly for a Remain vote and later lost his job as chancellor, and a major victory for Elliott, who was chief executive of the official Brexit campaign, Vote Leave. – City A.M. Gina Miller says she may set up new party to fight Brexit Chief Remoaner Gina Miller yesterday admitted she may set up a new political party to fight for closer ties to the EU.The businesswoman also denied that she is obsessed with Brexit – saying that it is Leave voters who can’t move on from the referendum. Mrs Miller, 52, who took the Government to court to force them to hold a parliamentary vote, is backing pro-Europe candidates across the UK. Yesterday afternoon she held a campaign event on a boat on the Thames alongside a Liberal Democrat candidate. She said her new movement was totally non-partisan – even though it is only backing Labour, Lib Dem and Green candidates and not anti-Brexit Tories. – The Sun Daily Express: Only Theresa May can be trusted to deliver Brexit Theresa May’s plea to voters to trust her to fulfil “the promise of Brexit” shows she understands this. Her upbeat vision of a Britain freed from the shackles of Brussels chimes with British voters. For most people – and this includes many of those who backed Remain last June – the referendum is over and they are ready to move on. They have no interest in Lib Dem plots to try to keep us in the EU. Nor are they convinced by Labour’s lukewarm approach to leaving. They just want a government prepared to roll up its sleeves and make sure we make the most of this opportunity. It is difficult to imagine a man less likely to deliver a satisfactory Brexit deal than Jeremy Corbyn. Yesterday Mrs May accused him of not believing in Britain. Never has a truer word been spoken. – Express editorial Tom Harris: Prime Minister Corbyn wouldn’t leave without a Brexit deal – but who knows how bad it could be? If there’s one essential quality that any British political leader requires, it is surely his or her willingness to destroy the planet in a nuclear firestorm. We’re all familiar with the Frederick Forsyth-esque drama of any new Prime Minister’s first hours in office, when they are isolated in a room, entirely alone, so that they may add their name to a letter of instruction to the commander of Britain’s at-sea nuclear deterrent. One letter instructs the unlucky submariner to retaliate against whichever enemy of Britain’s has launched a nuclear attack on us; a second one tells him to hold fire for the sake of the survival of mankind…This should serve as a lesson to Jeremy Corbyn – not on the ethics or strategy of nuclear warfare, but on something far more imminent and unavoidable: Britain’s negotiations to leave the European Union. – Tom Harris for The Telegraph Ella Whelan: Meet the 10 most anti-Brexit, anti-democratic candidates Racist, low-information, misled and misunderstood – Brexit voters have been called a lot of nasty things. And in this General Election, it’s important to remember that many of our politicians, who are now vying for our votes, indulged in this bashing of the electorate. The issue at hand in this election is democracy, and whether or not MPs will implement the people’s will. Their attitude towards Brexiteers reveals their attitude towards democracy itself, and to the voting public. If your MP won’t listen to the will of the people on the European Union, how can you expect them to listen to your concerns about the NHS, housing or education? As the country prepares to go to the polls, here is spiked’s list of the Top 10 anti-democrats. If you believe in democracy, and you’re in one of the constituencies in which these people are candidates, don’t give them your vote on 8 June. – Ella Whelan for Spiked Juliet Samuel: A blizzard of paperwork cannot disguise the need for euro reform hen the next euro crisis hits, remember that its seeds were being sowed in the year 2017. On Wednesday, top European Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis and Pierre Moscovici published a paper about how to make the euro work. Or rather, they published a paper about how to make the politics of the euro work, using all sorts of inventive schemes to disguise the fundamentals of what needs to happen: Germany has to underwrite everyone’s debts and the continent’s economic laggards need to embrace painful reforms. Because all of this is so unpalatable, the emerging strategy of the European Commission is twofold: incrementalism and obfuscation. – Juliet Samuel for The Telegraph Brexit comment in brief A Remainer in Brexit-land (but best not mention that) – Jack Malvern for The Times (£) Project Fear Alert: Brexit won’t harm the young – Alexander Fluza for The Commentator Preet Gill on Brexit, representation and a “lazy” media – Emma Bean for LabourList No hard cheese for Brexiteers – Patrick Kidd for The Times (£) Theresa May needs Brexit to get her elected – it’s all she has left – Anne Perkins for The Guardian Theresa May: I will make Brexit work for Yorkshire – Theresa May for the Yorkshire Post Without EU regulations on chemicals, Brexit Britain will be a toxic wasteland – Bruce Lourie for The Guardian Theresa May is too cowardly to allow the Brexit election we so badly need – Martin Kettle for The Guardian Brexit news in brief Soros: Brexit talks could last years as risks distract EU – Daily Mail Conservative win would give UK strongest hand in Brexit talks, say economists – Reuters France sees ties with Germany key for post-Brexit EU farm policy – Daily Mail Farage blames `hysterical´ FBI claims on `liberal elite unable to accept Brexit´ – Daily Mail EU nationals seeking British citizenship more than triples in past year, new figures show – Independent BBC host berates Nicola Sturgeon over SNP’s influence on Brexit talks – Express Furious Juncker vows Brussels will block trade deals between US and EU states – Express UK pharma sector faces ‘crisis’ without early Brexit deal – Telegraph A quartet of anti-Brexit “musketeers” are hoping to give Westminster a bloody nose over the approach to quitting Europe – City A.M. Norway’s Labour will hold trade talks with London only after Brexit settled – Reuters