Sign up here to receive this daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team Britain’s economy could be stronger than previously thought, says Bank of England economist The underlying growth in Britain’s economy may be stronger than previously thought, according to an influential economist at the Bank of England. Michael Saunders, a member of the interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), said the Bank’s errors in forecasting GDP growth may reflect a healthier recovery in the UK economy than previously thought. The Bank’s forecasts were based on assumptions Brexit would harm the economy, but Saunders said the MPC “was not necessarily obliged” to wait for the full effects of Brexit to become clear before changing monetary policy. – City A.M. City continues to be jobs magnet, despite Brexit uncertainty The City continues to be a jobs magnet despite some financial services jobs being shifted to Europe, a report suggests. The Morgan McKinley London Employment Monitor registered a double-digit jump in financial sector vacancies last month. The number of financial jobs in London grew by 17% in March, compared to February. – Sky News Britain ‘has fallen behind the EU in the queue to strike a trade deal with the US’, claims new report… Britain has fallen behind the EU in the queue to strike a free trade deal with the US, Washington officials suggested. In private talks last month, German chancellor Angela Merkel convinced the president a US-EU deal was more important than one with Britain, The Times reports. The claims comes just months after the US President said the UK was “smart” for getting out of the bloc which he claimed was “basically a vehicle for Germany”. In January, before his inauguration as president, Trump said he wanted to help make Brexit a “great thing” with a bumper transatlantic trade deal. The Times says Trump has accepted he must do a deal with the whole bloc, not single nations. US exports to the EU were £210billion last year, compared to £43billion to the UK. Earlier this month, Trump praised the EU’s response to Brexit, and claimed that Britain’s exit will be good for both parties. – The Sun …while travelling to US could become harder for EU citizens as visa war escalates The Trump administration has announced that it will review the US visa-waiver programme, which currently allows European passport holders to travel to America without a visa. During an appearance at George Washington University this week, the secretary of homeland security, John Kelly, said rules allowing Europeans to travel to the US without a visa should be reviewed, citing concerns over terrorism. “We have to start looking very hard at that [visa-waiver] program,” he said. “Not eliminating it and not doing anything excessive, but look very hard at that program.” – Daily Telegraph Tony Blair concedes May will win a large majority – but says she cannot have a free hand on Brexit… Tony Blair has predicted Theresa May will win a “large majority” in the general election but called for a “movement” of pro-EU voters to prevent her getting a mandate for a “Brexit at any cost”. The former prime minister said the opinion polls, which put Labour as many as 24 points behind the Tories, “appear to be definitive” in pointing towards a big Tory victory on June 8. But he called for a “movement of informed voters” to demand candidates make clear whether they would support the UK leaving the European Union with no deal, or one that does not give good access to the single market. – BT …as Tim Farron claims ‘bogus’ Brexit arguments are not the reason Theresa May called election… Theresa May is using “bogus” arguments about Brexit to justify an early election motivated by party-political calculation, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has claimed. Far from being necessary for the success of Brexit negotiations, the June 8 poll has been called because Tories believe they can capitalise on Labour’s weakness under Jeremy Corbyn, the Liberal Democrat leader said. Mr Farron was speaking as he visited the Manchester seats of Gorton and Withington, two of a string of Remain-voting Labour strongholds in the North West of England which the Lib Dems hope to snatch from Mr Corbyn’s party. – BT …and Brexit-backing Labour MP Kate Hoey faces down unrest to stand again in Vauxhall… Brexit cheerleader Kate Hoey has faced down unrest in her local party after they backed her reselection to stand in Vauxhall. The Labour Leave chair sparked controversy for campaigning alongside ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage on his Thames flotilla during the referendum. Despite the Vauxhall Labour Party publicly disassociating themselves from her over Brexit and rumours she would be deselected, members have rallied around her so she can fight her eighth election. A statement released by the branch to the Evening Standard said they had agreed to “work collaboratively” with 70-year-old Ms Hoey, who has held the seat since 1989. – Evening Standard …as it emerges UKIP may not contest seats held by pro-Brexit MPs Ukip may not stand candidates in some seats currently represented by strongly pro-Brexit Conservative MPs, sources in the party have said, potentially giving Theresa May an easier task in securing a larger majority. Conservatives named as possible beneficiaries of the strategy include the North East Somerset MP, Jacob Ress-Mogg, and Philip Davies, who represents Shipley, both of whom have strong anti-EU views. There is also keenness among some Ukip figures for the party to stand aside in seats where a pro-leave Conservative MP is facing a close challenge from the pro-remain Liberal Democrats. While the main beneficiaries would be Tories, it is possible that some pro-Brexit Labour MPs, for example Kate Hoey in Vauxhall, could also see no Ukip candidate stand against them. – The Guardian Large Commons majority will strengthen May’s hand in Brexit talks, says Irish PM… Theresa May will be strengthened in negotiations with the EU if she wins a large Commons majority, the Irish prime minister has said, after a mini summit on Brexit with the leaders of Denmark and the Netherlands. Asked about the consequence of May’s decision to call a general election, Enda Kenny said he could understand “as a politician” the British prime minister’s motives. “I do think if, as is expected, the prime minister gets an enhanced majority, it strengthens her position as prime minister in conducting the Brexit negotiations,” he said. – The Guardian …as three EU leaders say the Brexit bill shouldn’t delay trade talks too long Haggling over the U.K.’s bill for leaving the European Union shouldn’t be allowed to cause too much of a delay in discussing the long-term trade relationship between the two economies, three EU prime ministers said. In a boon for U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, her counterparts from the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland indicated after talks in The Hague on Friday that she should be allowed time to work on the trade pact she wants to land. Dutch leader Mark Rutte said that while “sufficient progress” needed to be made on the bill, it was important not to “wait for too long” before turning to trade. “The sooner the better,” he told reporters, adding some issues shouldn’t be allowed to “hijack” progress in others. – Bloomberg Liam Fox says English goods are ‘in demand’ across the world… As Saint George’s Day approaches this weekend, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has celebrated the international demand for quintessential English food and drink around the world. From strawberries and cream to cheddar cheese and gin, typically English products are proving popular internationally. This comes as the Department for International Trade has sought to open up new markets to UK producers, launching its new ‘integrated export hub’ where companies large and small can find live export opportunities along with free advice and support to get exporting. Right now, there are almost 200 live opportunities for food and drink exporters including opportunities as far-afield from China to India and the Middle East. – Gov.uk …as John Redwood urges British shoppers to take revenge against Brussels by buying English wine – and British motors A veteran Tory Eurospectic yesterday urged Brit shoppers to take revenge against Brussels by buying English wine – and British motors. John Redwood said the country would be well catered for in the event the European Union imposes high tariffs post-Brexit, arguing there were plenty of options. He was immediately mocked on social media – with Twitters users posting an image of a vintage Austin ‘Brexit’ Allegro. Mr Redwood said: “You do not have to buy German and French cars. “There is a good choice of models, prices and specifications available from UK car factories.” – The Sun ‘Everything you do is to thwart Brexit’: Andrew Neil destroys Miller’s attempts to stop EU divorce The veteran BBC host launched into a tirade accusing her of doing anything she can to stop the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union. Mrs Miller, the woman behind the Supreme Court case which forced Theresa May to seek parliamentary approval for triggering Article 50, is plotting to “build the biggest tactical voting effort in UK history” in another bid to hamper Britain’s exit from the EU. She appeared on the BBC’s This Week having announced she will be crowdfunding her latest anti-Brexit project – having raised more than £180,000 in two days. Mrs Miller said: “Theresa May has said she called this general election to ensure there is unity in Westminster and no turning back on Brexit.” – Daily Express Leave.EU campaign backed by Nigel Farage and Arron Banks investigated over referendum spending A campaign to leave the European Union which was fronted by Nigel Farage and Arron Banks is facing an investigation into “potential offences under the law” over its referendum spending returns. The official elections watchdog said it had decided to investigate Leave.EU following an assessment that there were “reasonable grounds” to suspect the law had been broken. In a statement, the Electoral Commission said its inquiry would focus on whether the campaign group had received “impermissible” donations and whether its spending return was incomplete. – The Times (£) Rachel Sylvester: Battle over Brexit could reshape the political landscape The general election on June 8 looks like the most predictable for decades. With the Conservatives more than 20 points ahead of Labour in the polls and Theresa May 37 per cent more popular than Jeremy Corbyn, a Tory landslide seems all but inevitable. But, with politics in flux as never before, nothing is certain. The country is still divided over Europe. There will be widely varying swings in different parts of the country that national polls cannot pick up. With the Scottish Nationalists highlighting the future of the United Kingdom and the Labour Party utterly divided about its purpose and direction, the long-term consequences of the vote are potentially enormous whatever the result. The political historian Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield says: “This is the most heavily freighted election in recent times. There are so many possibilities, one of which is the realignment of British politics.” – The Times (£) Joshua Chaffin: How Theresa May won the hearts of Britain’s Brexiters As an ardent Brexiter, Simon Boyd did not support Theresa May to be prime minister. After all, she not only sat out the UK’s EU referendum contest last June but quietly voiced support for key arguments to remain in the bloc. But now Mr Boyd, the managing director of a specialty steelmaker in south-west England and regional head of a pro-Brexit business group, has the zeal of a convert. Even though he confesses to a perpetual fear of “people in the shadows” seeking to derail Britain’s divorce from the EU, his trust in Britain’s prime minister is absolute. “I have been . . . not just pleasantly surprised, I’m probably her biggest fan now,” he gushed last month. “If she went to the country right now, she’d win a landslide.” – Joshua Chaffin for the FT (£) Gina Miller: How do we get the best MPs for Brexit Britain? Vote thoughtfully British democratic values are embedded in the primacy of parliament. In uncertain times, it is of heightened importance that our elected representatives exercise their democratic duty and use all levers at parliament’s disposal to ensure a fair balance of powers. As citizens we should trust that there will be a meaningful discussion on the negotiations over our future relationship with the European Union – an issue that could fundamentally change our country. That’s why we’ve launched Best for Britain, a campaign aimed at supporting candidates who will stand by their principles, insist on real debate, and have an open mind on the UK-EU deal in the years ahead. Put simply, we believe in real parliamentary democracy. – Gina Miller for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/21/mps-brexit-britain-vote-gina-miller The Sun: Bitter Remainers who desert the Tories won’t bring about ‘soft Brexit’ or second referendum — only chaos, paralysis and hopeless division What would bitter Remainers who voted Tory in 2015 hope to gain by deserting them this time? What if, in a fit of pique over the referendum, enough voted Lib Dem in certain marginals that they cost Theresa May her currently slim majority? It would not lead to a “soft Brexit”, nor a second referendum. It would lead to utter chaos, paralysis and hopeless division as we try to negotiate with the EU. At worst it could install Jeremy Corbyn and his Marxist mates in No10, “governing” in coalition with the SNP and Lib Dems. Next door a Shadow Chancellor bent on “overthrowing capitalism” would borrow half a trillion pounds. The economy would implode, the Pound would be worthless, taxes would soar. – The Sun says Brexit in brief How Labour can reunite Britain beyond Brexit – Dan Jarvis MP for the Yorkshire Post The election provides a chance to strengthen the Brexit mandate – Jayne Adye for Comment Central Brexit news in brief Green Party to discuss anti-Brexit electoral pact – ITV News A brief guide to the French election: Populism across the spectrum —left, right and centre – Matthew Elliott for the Legatum Institute