Theresa May to face off at final PMQs with Jeremy Corbyn before hosting EU leaders at No10 for crunch Brexit talks
PM and Labour leader expected to use final Commons dust-up to push campaign slogans before EU’s chief negotiator arrives
THERESA May is set for a landmark day as she faces off at with Jeremy Corbyn for the final PMQs before the election ahead of crunch talks with EU leaders at No10 on Brexit.
The Prime Minister and the Labour leader are expected to use their final despatch box dust-up to push their campaign messages for the June 8 poll.
Later Brussels’ chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker will arrive at Downing Street for a working dinner.
It will be the first time Mrs May has met Mr Barnier since taking office, and the outcome of the meeting could have a huge bearing on an election campaign she is seeking to define by Britain's exit from the bloc.
After asking voters to give her a mandate for exit talks to begin, a leaked document yesterday showed just how tough the EU was planning to be over any new deal.
Draft guidelines showed Britain could be forced to carry on paying billions into Brussels until a year after we leave if we want a favourable trade agreement.
These extra payments would come on top of a so-called ‘divorce bill’ of up to €60billion - which EU officials are demanding to cover existing budget commitments and pension liabilities.
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But before Mrs May gets to grips with those concerns she will be focused on the House of Commons and ending this parliament with a thumping win over Mr Corbyn.
The PM is likely to stress that only she will provide the "strong and stable leadership" required in the Brexit negotiations while attacking the hapless Labour boss' "chaotic" leadership.
The Opposition leader is likely to try and widen the debate as he seeks to gain cut-through with the public for his policies to tackle inequality and the "rigged system" he says is propped up by the Tories.
It could be the last time the pair ever debate head-to-head given that Mr Corbyn is highly likely to face calls to resign or a leadership challenge if as expected he loses the election badly.
Mrs May is sure to face similar calls if the Tories lose, given their huge leads in opinion polls and widespread predictions of a landslide victory.
Her meeting with Mr Juncker also comes ahead of Saturday's European Council summit, when leaders of the other 27 EU countries will discuss their draft guidelines for Mr Barnier to take into the negotiations.
The initial guidance from European Council president Donald Tusk last month rejected the UK's pleas for parallel trade and divorce talks, but said negotiations on a future deal could begin as early as the autumn if Britain pays its exit bill.
Mrs May's official spokesman said she will use the meeting to stress that Britain will approach the talks "in a constructive manner and with great goodwill".
