JEREMY Corbyn has accused Theresa May of risking a “jobs meltdown” as the two main party leaders clashed over their rival plans for Brexit.

With a week to go until polling, the Prime Minister sought to revive the Conservatives’ faltering General Election campaign, presenting a hardening stance towards Europe and a promise of a brighter future for the UK outside the EU.

In campaign speech in Teesside, May said, free from the “shackles” of Brussels, the UK could again become a “great global trading nation”. She sought to rally support, saying that making a success of Brexit was a “great national mission”.

“Set free from the shackles of EU control, we will be a great, global trading nation once again bringing new jobs and new opportunities for ordinary working families here at home,” she said.

“But the brighter future we want for our country will not just happen. This great national moment needs a great national effort in which we pull together with a unity of purpose and, however we voted in the referendum last June, we come together with a determination to make a success of the years ahead. Because together we can do great things.”

She also launched a renewed attack on the Labour leader, saying he would unable to negotiate the deal with the remaining 27 member states that the UK needed.

“You can only deliver Brexit if you believe in Brexit. You can only fight for Britain if you believe in Britain. You can only deliver for Britain if you have the strength, the plan and the determination to see it through,” she said.

“And what we know in this election is that the only other person that can be Prime Minister in seven days’ time is simply not up to the job.”

But Corbyn hit back with a warning that May’s hardline approach to Brexit risked Britain crashing out of the EU without any deal at all – a situation Labour oppose.

“The Conservatives’ reckless approach has left us isolated and marginalised, increasing the chances of Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal, which would be the worst possible outcome for Britain,” he told a campaign event in Basildon.

“That would mean slapping tariffs on the goods we export – an extra 10 per cent on cars – with the risk that key manufacturers would leave for the European mainland, taking skilled jobs with them.

“In sector after sector, ‘no deal’ could prove to be an economic disaster. Theresa May’s approach risks a jobs meltdown across Britain.”

The clash came after May was widely mocked by opposition parties for her refusal to take part in Wednesday’s televised BBC debate, sending Home Secretary Amber Rudd instead. Corbyn and May’s interventions on Brexit took place just 24 hours after it emerged the European Commission is prepared to postpone the start of the Brexit negotiations if Corbyn becomes Prime Minister and needs more time to prepare for talks.

Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator in the talks, said last week that he hoped they would begin on June 19.

His comments were pounced upon by May as further evidence she and her experienced ministerial team should be re-elected. But in a blow to the Prime Minister, a European Commission source has admitted they would be prepared to allow a further postponement to the talks if the new government requests one.

Asked whether there would be scope to delay the start of talks, the source told the Politics Home website: “They have got to agree the date, so yes. If the UK was to turn around and say, ‘we need a bit of leeway’ – we don’t have a lot of leeway in the big scheme of things.

“There are only a number of months – less than two years – to do this, so there isn’t a terrible lot of scope. But the Commission will agree with the UK the dates for the first negotiating sessions.”

With polls continuing to narrow, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Labour would seek to implement its own programme as a minority government if it becomes the largest party in a hung Parliament.

Thornberry said Labour would not seek coalition deals, but would present a Queen’s Speech and Budget – effectively challenging other left-of-centre parties to back them or risk a return to Conservative rule.

Asked whether Labour would be ready to do a coalition deal, she said: “The truth is we are fighting to win and we are fighting to win with a majority... If we end up in a position where we are in a minority, we will go ahead and we will put forward a Queen’s Speech and a Budget.”