Sign up here to receive the daily news briefing in your inbox every morning with exclusive insight from the BrexitCentral team The victory of ‘pragmatic’ Macron is welcomed by some Brexiteers… Brexit supporters welcomed the election of ‘pragmatic’ Emmanuel Macron to the presidency amid claims he does not want a hard Brexit. Senior Tory Michael Fabricant told MailOnline Mr Macron was a ‘good European’ who would negotiate a deal that ensures a ‘strong Britain will benefit France’… Mr Macron’s chief economic adviser said Brexit was an opportunity for a ‘new relationship’ and said new president knew there was a ‘mutual interest’ in continuing prosperity. Mr Macron is set to be a linchpin in the Brexit talks alongside German chancellor Angela Merkel and senior officials in Brussels. – Daily Mail New French President Macron ‘does not want a hard Brexit’ – Daily Mail Macron to be tough in Brexit talks, but won’t seek to punish UK – Reuters Paris to redouble efforts to attract Brexit banks after Macron win – Daily Mail Emmanuel Macron wins but we will not see a flood of jobs from London to Paris – City A.M. Britain’s hopes of a good EU deal boosted as aides say Emmanuel Macron rejects ‘hard Brexit’ – The Sun Marine Le Pen defeated but France’s far right is far from finished – Guardian Nonsense that Macron will toughen Brexit – John Redwood’s Diary Will Macron mean the blues or a boost for Brexit? – James Landale for the BBC …while it is suggested that the new French President wants British firms frozen out of EU contracts British businesses face being locked out of the £350 billion market for public contracts in the EU under a proposal from France’s incoming president. Companies such as BT and Serco which carry out work for EU institutions and member states would be hard hit by a proposal by Emmanuel Macron to introduce a “buy European act” reserving access to public procurement deals to companies that produce most of their goods or services in the bloc. The proposal, contained in Mr Macron’s manifesto, is one of a series of measures aimed at protecting European industry and shoring up the EU. The pledge extends far beyond current rules and will put the young president at loggerheads with the European Commission, which recently pledged that it would “never advocate a buy European only policy”. – The Times (£) UK can expect Macron to be tough on Brexit, key adviser warns – The Guardian Macron says ‘integrity and unity of the EU will never be compromised’ – Independent Macron presidency will create fresh challenges over Brexit – Independent editorial Macron Makes First Phone Call to Merkel – Express Germany rejects idea of joint euro bonds after Macron victory. – Reuters Ministers fears Macron will scrap border controls in Calais… Ministers are drawing up plans to stop illegal immigrants from coming to Britain amid concerns that Emmanuel Macron could scrap UK border controls on French soil. Mr Macron, the newly-elected French President, vowed during his election campaign to renegotiate the Le Touquet agreement which enables British border officials to carry out checks in France. Theresa May yesterday appeared to concede that the agreement will have to be looked at again as she vowed to defend the border controls, arguing that they benefit France as much as the UK. The Telegraph understands that in the event the agreement is scrapped ferry companies will be made responsible for stopping illegal migrants from crossing the Channel. – Telegraph …but Theresa May vows to fight him if he attempts to undermine the UK border… Theresa May has vowed to fight Emmanuel Macron if he attempts to scrap British border controls in Calais and said that they benefit France as much as the UK. The Prime Minister said that Mr Macron, the new French President, has secured a “very strong mandate” and urged voters to put her in a similar “strong position” as she negotiates Brexit. She said that if she wins the election she will “sit down” with Mr Macron and discuss the Le Touquet agreement, under which British border officials can carry out border checks in France. – Telegraph Theresa May hints France-Britain border controls could change after General Election – Express …as the PM says that she wants a mandate like Macron’s Prime minister Theresa May has appealed to voters to grant her mandate just as strong as that handed to French President-elect Emmanuel Macron yesterday. Launching the Conservative candidates for London and the South East, the Prime Minister reiterated her demand for the British people to strengthen her hand for Brexit talks, while also again reiterating her commitment to a net migration target of less than 100,000.Continuing her efforts to talk in opposition seats, May addressed an audience in Harrow West, where Labour MP Gareth Thomas secured a majority of 2,208 in 2015.- City A.M. PM warns she needs mandate like Macron’s for Brexit talks – Daily Mail Tories claim May needs a Macron-style mandate for the Brexit talks – James Forsyth for the Spectator PM overrules opposition to keep 100,000 migration target The Prime Minister quashed speculation that the Tories are edging away from David Cameron’s target by confirming a pledge to reduce the figure to the “tens of thousands” will be included in the party’s general election manifesto. She also insisted that tighter border controls were urgently needed to ease the pressure on public services and the wage squeeze on the low paid. The Prime Minister said: “Once we leave the European Union we will have the opportunity to ensure that we will have control of our borders.” Mrs May gave an unequivocal commitment to keeping the annual migration target from the 2015 general election during a campaign visit to meet new Tory candidates yesterday. – Express Conservatives to retain ‘tens of thousands’ immigration pledge – Guardian Surge in applications for British passport from EU – FT (£) Iain Duncan Smith: work permit system would allow Britain to accept high-value people and fewer “low-skilled people” – BBC Does Theresa May really have any hope of hitting her immigration targets? – Telegraph Tories finally have chance to deliver migration pledge – Stephen Pollard for the Express Labour´s position on Brexit ‘unclear’, says Sadiq Khan… When I spoke to Khan afterwards we discussed his first year at City Hall, Donald Trump and the general election. But it was on Brexit that the Mayor was most striking. Though Khan praised shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer for recognising “the importance of privileged access to a single market”, he delivered a frank assessment of Labour’s standing.”There is an issue on the doorstep, which is people are unclear about the Labour position [on Brexit] nationally,” he told me. “Everyone’s clear about my position in London, you know where you stand with the Tories – extreme hard Brexit – you know where you stand with the Lib Dems: they wish the referendum had never happened and want a second one. People are less clear about Labour’s position nationally.” – New Statesman People are unclear on Labour’s stance on Brexit – Evening Standard Sadiq Khan says Labour’s Brexit position is ‘unclear’ – Independent …as Jeremy Corbyn insists the Brexit issue ‘has been settled’ Jeremy Corbyn will insist the issue of whether Brexit happens has been settled as he formally launches Labour’s campaign in Manchester. The Labour leader will say the country now needs to focus on “what sort of country do we want Britain to be after Brexit”. He will also say Labour will deliver a “jobs-first Brexit” and help the British people “take our wealth back” from rich and powerful vested interests if it wins the General Election. Mr Corbyn will insist “when Labour wins, the British people win”. The Labour leader has so far attempted to steer the campaign narrative away from Theresa May’s focus on upcoming Brexit negotiations, instead focusing on Tory cuts to public services and his party’s spending plans. – ITV news Jeremy Corbyn says Brexit issue ‘settled’ – BBC I’m staying no matter what, says Corbyn – The Times (£) Nuttall Admits UKIP at risk from ‘Hard Brexit’ Paul Nuttall has admitted his long-term future, as well his party’s prospects, is under threat if Theresa May makes a success of Brexit. The UK Independence Party leader said he was only leader “at the moment” and his party’s future hangs on Mrs May failing to take Britain of the European Union without paying a bill to Brussels. At the weekend Mr Nuttall’s predecessor Nigel Farage said Ukip may only last another two years if Theresa May delivers the Brexit “voters wanted”. Speaking today Mr Nuttall raised his questions about this own ability to lead Ukip. He said: “Am I the right man to answer these questions? Well at the moment I am the leader of Ukip.” Asked if Ukip could disband in two years’ time, Mr Nuttall said Mr Farage’s prediction hung on Mrs May failing to deliver “a full Ukip-style of Brexit”. – Telegraph Ukip will still have a future after Brexit, says Paul Nuttall – Guardian Theresa May’s new wave of Brexit believers Theresa May’s snap general election looks set to usher in a new wave of Brexit true believers. While a handful of ardent and noisy Euroskeptic veterans including Peter Lilley and Gerald Howarth are bowing out of the British parliament, believing Brexit to be in safe hands, candidates who were firmly on the Leave side of the referendum debate are poised to take their place. With polls giving the Conservatives a clear lead in the U.K general election, the question for the Conservative whips — the party enforcers in parliament — is how big, and crucially how obedient, will the class of 2017 be? – Politico Patrick Hosking: Brexit does not mean that Britain can escape the EU’s pension bill This is personal. The EU negotiators have a deep interest in making sure that their retirement benefits are not compromised in any way. They may battle hard for the German car industry or Spain’s claim over Gibraltar, but they are unlikely to overlook their own pensions. Mrs May’s bête noir Jean-Claude Juncker, the commission president, is in a special scheme for top brass, while Michel Barnier, its chief negotiator, is in the main EU scheme. The numbers are huge. It really is a very generous arrangement. Almost 76,000 present and former EU officials have already been promised €64 billion of retirement and healthcare benefits. The average lump sum value is €845,000 per member, or £716,000, and that average includes the most junior newly appointed clerk. Senior long-servers have clocked up rights to many multiples of this number. Oh, and this is the killer, there’s zilch in the kitty. There are no assets. This is an entirely unfunded scheme, with pensions paid out of member states’ annual contributions to the club. – Patrick Hosking for The Times (£) Ambrose Evans-Pritchard: Volcanic Macron forces Germany to come clean on its real EU agenda Emmanuel Macron’s lightning conquest of France has put Germany in an awkward spot. Berlin may have to start fleshing out its European rhetoric and contemplate a Franco-German grand bargain on the future of the EU, or risk serious consequences down the road. Excuses are running thin. French voters have picked an apostle of Europe and an arch-defender of the Franco-German axis. While this is welcomed with jubilation by some in Berlin, it raises thorny questions that others would prefer left unanswered. Charles Grant from the Centre for European Reform says Mr Macron’s strategic gamble is to restore French credibility, and then to lever this to extract a “new concordat on the euro” from Germany. – Ambrose Evans-Pritchard for The Telegraph (£) William Hague: Emmanuel Macron thinks he can save the EU, but the coming migration crisis might break it first It was an unenthusiastic landslide. Emmanuel Macron has just been elected President of France by a wide margin, but more for what he is not than for anything he is known to be. He is not from the French political parties. He is not Sarkozy, and, above all, not President Hollande. He was the only mainstream candidate remaining against the National Front, who garnered a third of the votes of a disillusioned electorate. Rejection of established leaders and policies was the real story of this election, in a country with slow growth, high unemployment, excessive taxes, obstructive trade unions and growing cultural divisions. – Lord Hague for The Telegraph (£) Daily Express: MPs who defy EU referendum deserve to lose their jobs The general election could see former Ukip supporters help the Tories unseat more than 20 rival Remoaner MPs. This newspaper certainly hopes that will be the case. This country is a democracy and the people we send to Parliament have a duty to represent us and act on our wishes. Those who refuse to do so – for example, by ignoring the result of a nationwide referendum – can have no complaints if their constituents decide they would rather vote for somebody who shares their point of view. Theresa May had little choice but to call this election. She realised it would likely prove impossible to ensure the Brexit process goes smoothly and that the best outcome for Britain is achieved if Parliament is packed with people doing all they can to keep us in the EU. With the referendum over the public now wants to see the Government get on with delivering Brexit. – Express editorial Brendan O’Neill: Brexiteers are Marine Le Pen’s natural opponents I’m a Brexiteer and I’m glad Le Pen lost. Those Brexit-bashers who say ‘Brexit-Trump-Le-Pen’ almost as one word, as if they are the same thing, all weird, all evil, all a species of fascism, have got it utterly wrong. Brexit was democratic, optimistic, generous, a positive people’s strike for better politics. Le Pen’s programme, by contrast, is mean, nativistic, protectionist and tragic. Its motor is fear, not confidence; panic, not experimentation. It has nothing in common with Brexit. I am a Brexiteer against Le Pen, and there are many of us. – Brendan O’Neill for the Spectator Asa Bennett: Emmanuel Macron has given the EU elite its mojo back. Theresa May should be relieved Angela Merkel’s spokesman chalked up his success as a “victory for a strong and united Europe”… Emmanuel Macron doesn’t just share their belief in the necessity of the European project, he also shares their distaste for anything threatens its stability. Brexit, he said during the campaign, would not be a “walk in the park” for Britain, and would leave it in “servitude” after leaving the bloc. His bellicose language may not seem at first glance to bode well for Theresa May ahead of her Brexit talks, but she will be secretly relieved that he triumphed over Le Pen. – Asa Bennett for the Telegraph (£) Brexit comment in brief Why wasn’t 2015 the ‘Brexit election’? – Brian Wheeler for the BBC France pulled back from the brink – Bill Blain for CommentCentral It’s time that Remainers put the national interest first and rally behind Brexit – Tim Stanley for the Telegraph (£) It is up to Britain – not the EU – to decide whether Brexit is a success – Ryan Bourne for City A.M. No, the Conservatives have not “become UKIP” – Mark Wallace for ConservativeHome Frexit in a decade? The real warning from France – The Commentator editorial Brexit News in brief Jeremy Corbyn’s quick exit from Leamington visit without saying ‘Brexit’ – Coventry Observer Theresa May’s Brexit attack on Brussels overshadows UK economic downturn – Independent Banks planning to move 9,000 jobs from Britain because of Brexit – Reuters Fall in jobseekers sparks fears of Brexit skills gap – The Times (£) Brexit process will expose basic weakness in European banking – FT (£) Brexit ‘putting EU workers off taking a UK job’ – SkyNews After Brexit, underwriter Hiscox picks Luxembourg as EU base – Daily Mail Brexit has added 5p to a litre of fuel, claims Nick Clegg – Daily Mail