UK to trigger Brexit process by March in 2017: PM
British Prime Minister Theresa May Sunday said she will formally trigger the process of the UK’s exit from the 28-nation EU by the end of March 2017, ending the speculation surrounding the timing of the important move.
May confirmed the deadline for triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which sets in place a two-year process of withdrawal from the European Union or so-called Brexit, as the first quarter of next year.
She has also promised a “Great Repeal Bill” in the next Queen’s Speech, which sets parliamentary business for the year.
While the prime minister had long hinted that she would start the Brexit process early next year, many observers had speculated that she would hold off until the French presidential elections, due to conclude in May.
It will repeal the act that took the UK into the forerunner of the European Union and remove the European Communities Act 1972 from the UK’s statute book after the British public had voted in favour of Brexit in a June 23 referendum.
“This is about delivering for the British people, and this is not just about leaving the European Union, it’s about that essential question of the trust people have in their politicians. The people have spoken, we will deliver on that,” May was quoted as saying by BBC.
