UK faces defining moment as it leaves EU – May

The UK faces a “defining moment” as it leaves the European Union, Theresa May said as she prepared to begin the formal Brexit process.

Legislation allowing the Prime Minister to start the process cleared Parliament on Monday night and Mrs May told MPs she would come to the Commons later this month to announce when she has taken that step.

Mrs May said the legislation would receive royal assent within the “coming days”, allowing her to keep to her promise of starting the Brexit process by the end of March.

But in a Commons statement following last week’s European Council, Mrs May was jeered by opposition MPs as she stressed her desire to see the single market strengthened because her Brexit plan involves leaving it.

Setting out the next steps in her plan, Mrs May said: “We remain on track with the timetable I set out six months ago, and I will return to this House before the end of this month to notify when I have formally triggered Article 50 and begun the process through which the UK will leave the European Union.

“This will be a defining moment for our country as we begin to forge a new relationship with Europe and a new role for ourselves in the world.

“We will be a strong, self-governing global Britain with control once again over our borders and our laws.

“We will use this opportunity to build a stronger economy and a fairer society, so we secure the right deal for Britain and a better deal for working people.”

Mrs May’s plan for Brexit would mean leaving the single market and seeking a comprehensive trade agreement instead.

The Prime Minister had to allow the noise in the Commons to die down as she set out her support for “further steps to complete the single market and the digital single market” and the EU trade deal with Canada.