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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.

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May: No delays in invoking Article 50

There will be no unnecessary delays in invoking article 50, Theresa May has said.

Speaking at the Conservative party conference, the prime minister said: "Having voted to leave, I know that the public will soon expect to see on the horizon the point at which Britain does formally leave the European Union.

"So let me be clear. There will be no unnecessary delays in invoking Article 50."

Confirming the date by which this will happen which she had already stated in an earlier interview, Mrs May added: "We will invoke it when we are ready and we will be ready soon. We will invoke Article 50 by no later than the end of March next year."

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

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