Advertisement

  1. National

May: Article 50 to be triggered before end of March next year

Theresa May has said the formal withdrawal process for Britain leaving the European Union will be invoked by the end of March 2017.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, the prime minister also confirmed plans for a "Great Repeal Bill" to overturn legislation that took Britain into the EU.

However Mrs May came under attack from Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after she said there is "no opt out from Brexit" and we will "never allow divisive nationalists to undermine the precious union between the four nations of our United Kingdom".

Mrs May also said she will not accept any limits on Britain's ability to control immigration in negotiations to leave the EU.

View all 12 updates ›

Chris Grayling: UK will keep EU workers' rights and eco laws

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. Credit: ITV

The government will seek to keep some EU laws in the areas of environment and workers' rights post-Brexit, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said.

Speaking on ITV's Peston on Sunday, Mr Grayling said the public wants certainty on the issue of Britain leaving the EU, and endorsed Theresa May's announcement that Article 50 will be triggered before the end of March 2017.

"It's important that we give some certainty about the process," he said.

"Today's announcements are a staging post on the route towards triggering Article 50 and towards holding the negotiations."

The Transport Secretary also said that Britain would have a "sensible" agreement with the EU that allows the UK to continue to trade with the continent; and take control of the flow of people into Britain.

  1. Read more
  2. 12 updates
May: Article 50 to be triggered before end of March next year

More on this story