Brexit letter will be historic document – May

THERESA MAY has told the Cabinet that her letter to the European Union giving formal notification of Brexit will be “one of the most important documents in our country’s recent history”, Downing Street said.

The Prime Minister said it will “set the tone for our new relationship with Europe and the world”, in a signal that it could be a substantial statement of the UK’s intentions, rather than a simple message informing the EU that she is triggering Article 50 to begin Brexit.

Mrs May told ministers the invoking of Article 50 on March 29 would be a “historic event” which will see Britain begin a “bold new chapter as a prosperous, open and global nation”, her official spokesman said.

It comes after European Council president Donald Tusk announced that EU leaders will meet on April 29 to collectively agree a Brexit negotiating position, pushing the start of substantial talks back to at least May.

The summit’s timing will give leaders of the EU’s 27 other member states time to consider Mr Tusk’s response to Theresa May triggering Article 50 on March 29, which he has promised within 48 hours.

The EU27 will then come together at the extraordinary summit in April to agree their position and give European Commission chief negotiator Michel Barnier a mandate for exit negotiations. The date of April 6 was initially pencilled in for a summit, but after the Prime Minister delayed triggering Article 50 to the end of the month, despite receiving Parliament’s approval to do so on March 13.

Mr Tusk announced the date of the summit on Twitter, adding: “Priority must be certainty, clarity for all: citizens, companies & member states.”

The timing means substantive negotiations will not begin until at least May, giving the PM just 17 months to get a deal, according to Mr Barnier’s timetable.