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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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Tory MP 'troubled hugely' by Brexit trigger timetable

Conservative MP Anna Soubry has voiced concerns after Theresa May's announcement that the formal process for Brexit will be triggered before the end of March 2017.

The former business minister, who has campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU, told Peston on Sunday: "Triggering Brexit as early as March really concerns me...troubles me hugely.

She added: "I'm sorry, it's going to take a lot of time and effort to disentangle ourselves and get the right deal."

"This idea that we hold the cards and that the EU is going to come to us and say 'you know what, we'll give you pretty much what you want'...is rubbish."

"We're going to get something worse...and we don't hold the cards the EU does," she added.

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

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